How hot does your small block run?
The temperature gauge on my dart moves to more than half on any day over 80 degrees while in traffic.
The gauge has the letters TEMP on it.
I was worried at first, but when I put a laser temp gun on it, I found that even when the needle was between the "M" and "P", it was only running at 205 degrees.
I doesn't go much beyond that even on the hottest day. Still no fan shroud yet, but I'm working on it.