Why are you using 20/50 oil? That weight of oil is really not necessary except in a race car or one that is wore out, and on its last leg. Look at  http://www.bobistheoilguy.com  to read more about oil than anyone will ever need. This web site is the WORD on oil. Your filter choice is ok but the WIX filters are the very best there is, bar none. BTW I use 10/30 in my Pinto the year around. BTW #2, Valvoline racing oil, while really good stuff, is not made for street cars because the additive package for the street is not necessary and not used. The racing oil is to be changed after each race because of the lack of the additive package.

My pressure gauge is fitted to the outlet that the original pressure switch was fitted to, which is located in the driver side of the block between the oil filter and bell housing.

I assume that in this position it measures pressure after the filter.

After driving around in 90 degree weather, engine temp stabilized at about 185.

At this temp, at 1000 rpm pressure was about 40 psi, at 3500 about 60 psi.

I assume that the older filter was just plugged and the new motorcraft is just flowing more oil.

As i mentioned i have valvoline 20-50 vr1 in it now and will be doing some low speed driving around with the stampede in dea4born so the engine temp may get up to 190-200.

I got some Valvoline MaxLife 10-30 and plan to just use it to top off the VR1 with tha 10-30  until the next change.