"Charlie" has Overheating probs- Here are my Clues and please chime in with opinions!

More food for thought. . . .

I was running a 160 degree thermostat- took it out for the flush I did today. Likewise, went and borrowed a system pressure tester and hooked it up- steady as a rock pressurized, even when the engine was running and tried and tried to get it to shake the needle with the motor at normal temperatures and RPM up to 4000-5000 and held. Nothing. If a crack were there and opened with the heat, I should have seen something like a pulsing into the water and shaking that needle. Didn't even pressurize it above the 15-17 lb point. So, the head and gasket seem good.

Drove the borrowed tool back to the AutoZone- ran on tap water only, got no hotter than 1/3rd temp gauge. Gotta be the 'stat- it isn't even in there any more! That'd be embarrassing!

Then, took it out and ran it on the highway-65-70 plus for 5-8 miles- temp crept up to 1 tick past the halfway mark- still getting hotter than it should. . .

Pulled over for gas, restarted it- needle 2/3rds with the stop, then as the water circulated, dropped right back down to 1/3rd. However, while driving now at 50-60, needle started its creep back to halfway. . .about a 5 mile drive back to the house.

Driving me to drinking, it is- and now I am out of beer!

Then, it dawned on me- TWO sources of heat being inputted into that radiator- the engine and the automatic transmission.

Just how hot does the transmission operate normally? Just pulled the dipstick for the tranny- the stick is plenty hot, but the oil is still clear red and didn't cook my fingers. . .but I got thick hide there too.

Whatcha think?