Big block cooling

Dusty1970 said

Then why isn’t the water at the top of the radiator hotter? It just came out of the engine. Then the rad cools it and it enters the bottom of the engine at its coolest point. Right? Thanks

Click to expand...

Yes. My assumption is that where you are measuring is the issue.

Infrared temp probs don't work well on certain materials, like shiny surfaces.

There is another possibility...

The water pump is a later verity from a serpantine belt and is running backwards.