Thermostat Q's

Ok you guys have finally talked me into using the thermo and flaps,
after 20 years of not having them at all,( I also drank the Koolaid
about the svda,and that worked out well) this car i bought has them
still installed, so i get the fan shroud back on and etc but no matter
how low i get the "bellows" mounted they arent closing the flaps all
the way, the rod moves freely without the thermo screwed to it, I put
marks on the fan shroud and the connecting rod in front (of car) so i
could tell if it opens and closes all the way and at dead cold it only
closes the flaps about half way. is it procedure to bend the rod more
to get them to close or is that enough to insure proper heat
distribution for warmup? I still have the eng here in garage, so i
can adjust anything, but I wanna take her for a drive! so any help is
appreciated!!!