Yeah, I may have Maxxed on solutions!

Not that you guys haven't heard enough about this...So I had the radiator flow tested, etc, changed the temp. sensor, straightened out the cooling fan directions, and added about a 30% antifreeze mix with Water Wetter. Still, same condition. Running a 160 deg. (new) stat, showing 1:00, just past N and sometimes half way to H on normal driving on a cool night WITH THE HEATER ON!! Last year, the car overheated because the HG died, and the head cracked so I had to scrounge a replacement which turned out to be a rebuilt one from some Iowa Company. It's an earlier head, and this is a 77B. Would this make a difference? The mechanic said he had to change the rocker assembly for it. OR, should I just assume the guage is off? Fans kick in OK and stay on for about 45 sec. and then go on again after a few minutes at idle. I can go into denial, if advised to do so and just driver it!

If I was you, I would order a new sending unit or the other thing is you voltage stabilizer! Are your fuel and oil pressure gauges reading a little higher?? Get a meat thermometer and check the 'real' temp!! GOOD LUCK!!!

My guage was doing the same thing and the actual temperature was 190. Since the guage was wrong and the sensor was new I just adjusted the guage range.

I put a 15 ohm 1 watt resitor in line before the sending unit and now my guage reads dead in the middle at full operating temperature. In traffic it creeps up a little but it is still toward the middle.

By the way this adjustment cost me about 30 cents for the resistor and 2 plugs one male one female plus a 3inch piece of wire. So I can take it back out in 10 seconds.

What was the sender's resistance ? Before you put the 15 ohm in line.

If you know your water pump impeller isn't rotted away, the block has been flushed, the rad is rodded, then there isn't much else other than the guage. You aren't puking anti-freeze, right?

Not to throw a flag on that play, but didn't this ex-Navy instrument tech say check your sender? ;)

The Tugboat?

Yep. Breaking out the backpacking stove and thermometer this next week to check my sender unit after I get my brakes done. When mine is "hot", it appears its actually at 190 F ish from sticking a thermometer in the radiator, but I want to confirm what is mucked up. Hang in there. Worries the hell out of me even driving around and knowing the real temp when it creeps up.

So turn your guage in the hole to make the needle point straight down. :)

I'm thinking the turning of the guage thing is the answer!