I was dreading the thought that the thermostat was the problem, so I picked an easier battle first...
Changed out the fan clutch with a Hayden unit I ordered from RockAutoParts, and after a few days of driving around in this nasty Az heat, I'm happy to report that the temp guage hasn't gone above normal!..
Next up... I'll be changing a slightly worn out center-link to help take out some of the play in the steering.
I tried a couple searches, but I couldn't find an old thread called "what are you doing to your VX this weekend"
That was a fun thread to read and I figured I would add to it, but I guess it just died out...