helllp with cooling issue
First thing I would do if I were you (and what I did) was give the engine block and radiator both a good backflush.
It can be done pretty efficiently at home if you have a half decent compressor (100 plus pounds) and decent CFM.
I pulled the thermostat and put the stat housing back on.
Then pulled the bottom radiator hose from the rad end.
Put a garden hose into the thermostat housing along with the air gun and wrap them both with a wet rag to get the best seal I could.
Turn the water on full blast and hit the air about every 10 - 15 seconds.
(You will need to hold the rag down around the hoses pretty tight so the air blasts the water through the block really good.
I think you would be amazed at the amount of crap that comes out the lower hose.
Using the lower hose fitting on the radiator to do the same to it.
You may want to tie the top hose pointing down somewhere to keep what comes out from going all over the engine.
If that does not help, then you only have airflow and coolant circulation to consider. (But you'll know your block is clean)
These older motors can fill with sediment over the years and cause spots in the block that get much hotter than they normally do.
Circulation won't help with that either, because the places that get hot are covered with said sediment and the coolant can't get to it like it used too.
I'm not saying that this is what it is, just that it's a good place to start so you can quickly narrow it down and find it.
Hope ya get it figured out.
Damn, I read this whole thread looking for the answer to my problem.
Same type of symptoms:
Temp gauge creeps up above 200 while driving. I got an infrared thermometer for Christmas and this confirms the 200+ temp. I am concerned that next summer when the outside temp gets 90+ that it won't stay cool. I also have a 180* thermostat, installed correctly. I haven't found a shroud that fits yet, but that begs another question. The radiator fills the complete core support hole, where else is the air coming through? I can see the shroud would help at a stop sign, but not so much when you are moving...
Thanks,
C