97 2.3l ford ranger splash. No AC, (If that matters)

Tldr at the bottom and pointed questions above that sorry I ramble it helps me think sometimes.

Long story but unfortunately got rust in the system and messed it all up. Finally got it flushed recently. (Flush gun came in clutch!) Used that CRC thermocure. (Seems like it's working like a dream probably would be better by now if I had installed the thermostat correctly ( don't know where my head was at but dropped the o-ring so it wasn't sealing, thus not getting up to temp but it's turning black like it's supposed to, and slightly green, I know it was clean of all the coolant so it's just the process of the entire thing.

Now tonight I found the o-ring and realized the issue I was having with it not maintaining temp, so drained it into a jug to reuse (get you one of those siphon pumps you squeeze to activate it works beautifully! Like thought I was wasting my time but got dang near all my coolant (the first time around) the enough of the distilled/thermocure mix that I wasnt spilling it when I got to my thermostat. Did the deed and poured almost all of it back in, didn't want to add back any settled sediment that I got from the bottom of the radiator. Added back some distilled water (it's good for up to 3galllon so not stressing the concentrate.

I know you are supposed to drive it daily but I don't it's a project car at the moment and not plated or insured. So I turn it on for an hour at a time. When I opened it up it wasn't quite what I was expecting was hoping for better progress. I'm sure if I drove her daily it wouldn't be an issue so thinking I just need to give it time.

ALSO! I REALLY like this truck, she's got less than 85k on her I want to get her in real good shape. What's the best coolant. (Please don't say the cheal green. I want that stupid stuff you'd never spend your money on because it's to expensive compared to the other stuff that's "just as good" I get it but like I want it to be nice if I can clean it up proper. She got me from Arizona to MN in the winter no heat mind you, all while battling with a temp that would not maintain running temp. It was running cooler but that's not great for her

Questions- - should I just wait and see for another week? - should I remove some more product and add more water? -should I order more thermocure and do another round? -and a really awesome coolant suggestion.

TLDR -I overthought the entire flushing her out method did it good now waiting for crc thermorcure to work right after getting the thermostat installed right. But wondering if I should replace it with new.