another overheating problem
I took it to mean three hundred and eighty one thousandths of an inch, just like he typed.
I think there's a slight mistake somewhere.
To the OP.........
This is not meant personally so don't take it as such.
So why did you pull the head? Simply because you threw everything else at it? What kind of ridiculous reasoning is that? You diagnosed nothing. You simply tried this and tried that and then yanked the head back off. There are a LOT more things that can cause over heating. Arbitrarily pulling the head with zero evidence is very likely going to result in you not finding what's actually wrong. ....as you have found out.
Proper diagnosis is key. Inspect for symptoms, diagnose as needed. It is very easy to see if a head gasket has failed or if a head or block is cracked. All of the major big box stores loan tools to diagnose that problem.
Yet, you chose to forge ahead into the vast unknown........that remains unknown because you didn't follow some very simple diagnostic procedures. At this point, you may never find out what the problem was.
Here is my suggestion. Since you have the head off, take it in and have it pressure checked. Let the professional machine shop check it for level. If they find all is well, replace the head back on the engine and get it running again. If it no longer over heats, guess what? You got lucky. If it still does, first VERIFY it is running hot. If so, go to one of your local big box stores and borrow the tool that tests for combustion in the antifreeze. Really easy to use.
If it passes that test......you've said you already checked the thermostat. At that point, I would remove the radiator and get it flowed. See what the outcome is there.
You don't fix something by throwing parts at it or arbitrarily ripping it apart. You fix things by proper diagnosis and repair. That's how it's done.
Everybody always wants to skip diagnosis trying to save time and almost always without fail, they spend twice or more the amount of time they wanted to spend.
