Mechanical Auto meter temp gauge routing.

Well, i got the duster running today, first start of the day. 70 above in the garage. Things i changed first. Installed a flowcooler waterpump, bottle of water wetter, a new high flow 180 T stat, and routed the temp cable to the top of the intake by the valve cover. Hood off as well. Started car, sat in car watched the gauge go to 185, see Tstat open and gauge go to 175. Watched this happen 3 times while running in the garage. This has never happened before. so what ever i did solved my cooling issues? I wasn't over heating, but the car did run around 195-200 all the time.