How hot should it get?

[BimmerTim]

Suggest that you spin the fan to the puller side after talking with some D stock racers. They were saying the Spal is great at pusher for effect but the radiator makes it tough to push air through it.

Meaning use the free effect of moving combined with pulling it through the core with a shroud. The shroud helps believe it or not.

If switching the wires doesn't solve it, I will try this.

I'll have to build a shroud too.

[BimmerTim]

if your engine was indeed running at 220f, you would likely be billowing steam. do you notice any indications of the car running hot other than what your gauge tells you? what brand is your gauge? is it vdo, autometer, etc or is it one of those cheap gauges like they sell on ebay? how sure are you that your sending unit is compatible with the gauge? if you don't have the one with the correct resistance, you will get erroneous readings in your cockpit. just a couple of things to think about.

Not billowing steam. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. It seems completely normal aside from the temp on the gauge.

The gauge is Autometer, and the sender came with it.