Overheating

After my waterpump on my 76 MGB self-destructed and took out the radiator, I replaced both the radiator and waterpump, and added a electic fan. Since then, the engine seems to run hotter, getting up to 210-220. It never boils over, nor does it get any hotter. I took the thermostat out to see if that made a difference and it didn't. Any ideas? Could I have blown a head gasket? I don't seem to be losing coolant and the engine runs good, at least until it gets hot and then it will stall at idle. Help. BTW, I verified the temp with a kitchen thermometer.

A few things come to mind.

Did any of the debris from the self destructing pump clog a water passage where it mates with the block? Did you flush the system? Perhaps the trauma of the event dislodged some of that muck and sediment that builds up in the water passages and it got pumped into the block?

Does the electric fan come on at the proper time(temp)?

Is the new electric fan in the proper "pusher-puller" configuration for your installation?

Thermostat temp rating.

Also check you actual temp with a infra red heat gun. Could be as simple as a bad sending unit.
Ken

Did you remove the stock plastic fan when you replaced the water pump? Aftermarket electric fans never seem to move as much air as the stock fan does.

I did remove what was left of the stock plastic fan. I was assumming that the electic fan would be enough by itself. Am I wrong?

Do NOT remove the t'stat, that much flow is not effective.

Remember, the t'stat controls the minimum coolant temp, not the maximum. I.e., a 180 deg t'stat opens completely at 180 deg, it does not change above that temp.