Oil can operate safely below 200... I wouldn't feel comfortable pushing the motor below 170 though. It will take longer to heat up with the cooler even with the thermostatic plate. The plate is never fully valved off.
Some people on the forum have cars that run at 180 without a cooler so you don't need to be over 200. Obviously you need to find a happy medium because even though a 34 row can cool faster, you are going to have issues warming up the engine under normal driving conditions if it isn't warm out. See modshacks DIY, he had to make a block off plate and I think he only used a 24-25 row. I might need to do the same when winter time comes (although I won't be driving the Z much in the winter).
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