Most guys go for pre-heating, but that can actually cause more warping on thin old metal. I skip the pre-heat and just use small stitches, letting it cool between passes. Works way better for me, at least lol.
Skipping the pre-heat sounds like a gamble... but @miller.mary knows that old metal has a mind of its own. Your stitch and pause method is probably the only secret to keeping it flat. Guess we all learn the hard way not to argue with vintage steel.