Over heating update

[Tiny]

A little back story:

Last spring I rebuilt my water pump, as all it did was leak water everywhere. Before pulling it I ran vinegar for a couple weeks. While the radiator was out I filled and flushed with more vinegar, turning it upside down a vigorously shaking and rinsing. My driveway smelled like an Easter egg factory that day!!! Loads of rust and gunk came out and my radiator drain time went from 7 seconds to 3 seconds. Finally I thought I was in the clear. The car still overheated and went through a lot of water. Anything more than a 10 mile drive and the windshield was wet.

The current story:
Last Sunday I joined my local chapter of MAFCA, The Rambling A's. Sundays breakfast was about 17 miles from my house. I made it to breakfast with some water on my windshield but I made it. How embarrassing to be the new guy with issues. Before I left for home I had to add about 3/4 of a gallon of water. I have long suspected that the water is just being pumped out the overflow and when it gets low enough the car overheats. My first inclination was the radiator must be plugged again so I gave it the drain test. It was still at about 3 seconds to drain. I decided it was time to add a temp gauge I had bought a while ago to help with diagnosis. I was talking with my dad that day and he asked if I had put a thermostat in. I hadn't for some reason, so what the heck I already had the upper hose off to put the temp gauge in and I had the thermostat at the house.

Now armed with a new Stewart Warner temp gauge my son and I took off for a test spin. The temp came up to 140 slowly in my nieghborhood. I turned to my son and said "well that's not enough lets go cruising." We headed out to the Blvd dropped it in high and set out for parts unknown at 45 mph pushing it up to 50 mph at times, still 140. Shasta Dam is about 15 miles or so from the house and there is quite a grade to get up there, now there's a TEST I thought to myself. As I turned left and eased out the clutch and began the climb I turned to my son and said "Well if we make it up the ride down should be a good test of the brakes!!!!" He didn't find this humorous!! I was dying laughing he was a little pale.

I'm happy to report I only reached 143 and the brakes were fine, I knew they were I just like messing with the boy.

Here is the proof!!!!!!!!

The lake sure is low though.
We could use a lot of rain

So for all the non-believers, I think a thermostat solved my issues. I think it slowed the water down enough to keep it in the system. Next I may put an overflow on it just to make sure I'm correct.
And yes my radiator has the deflector plate in the top tank.