[amcmike]

I saw somewhere it was 174°F. Yet I typically run 185° to 195°F. Is this normal? Is there a lower rated thermostat I can substitute?

 

[MikeQBF]

Thermostats vary coolant passage over a range, and are not a snap-on/snap-off situation. Per the service manual:

Starts opening: 169-176°F (76-80°C)
Fully open: 194°F (90°C)

That more or less fits with your observations.

You DO NOT want to install a "cooler" thermostat. The K24 is not a hunk of sloppy Detroit iron, it is a tightly-spec'ed alloy design, which mandates normal operation within a specific design range. Even lowering the range by 10°F will likely have adverse effects on fuel economy if not engine life.