Assistance with thermostat quick PLEASE!

[jbrodsky@domain.elided (Joel Brodsky)]

Harvesters,

I'm in dire need here.  I just picked up a thermostat (180)
and two new outlet gaskets (great that we need two anyway)
but, I put it in and it seems like the engine has to get WAYYY
HOT before it opens, if it opened at all!  I was watching in
the filler neck as I drained some coolant, and watched for the 
flow through the cores.  No go.  The top outlet casting feels
warm/hot, but the hose doesn't.  Does the conduction heat the
casting, and there really is no flow in the hose?  I was hoping
to get this done tonight, but, I type this with greasy fingers
hoping something will pop into my head.  I boiled the stat.  It
opens before the boil, so I guess it's ok, but the truck got way hot, like
1/2 scale and the heat never got hot, and there seemed to be only
minimal flow in the heater hoses.  What am I missing.  I can never
remember a stat ( of 25 or so that I've ever done) being this 
much of a pain.

Thanks everyone!

-Looking for assistance!

-Joel Brodsky
-75 T'all 150 4wd 392/727

'76 Scout II 345/727 open water outlets, thermostat in a pot
need clues quick!