You've got an air leak problem to solve. Mine never liked to run below 250°F when burning sticks but it would run there all day long with the intake about 1/2 open and the exhaust all the way open. I could close both baffles and kill the fire and then use the leftover coals for the next cook.
Without a diffuser plate and/or tuning plates you will be lucky to get your upright within 75-100° of your horizontal. With mine I could get within 25-50° when the horizontal was running 275-300° but not before and that was with a diffuser plate and tuning plates. It also took a long time to get the upright warmed up. Expect the upright to be a warming oven/holding area most of the time. The exception being like fish, twice smoked ham, bologna, or spam cooks. Don't try to make one of these run at 225°. Let it settle into where it wants to run and be content.
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