Hopefully the creative title gets some attention as I have spent a couple hours refreshing my mind and reading.

87 TPI
Coolant system.
Aluminum Radiator, 180 thermostat, newer water pump and heater bypass, direct from manifold to water pump.

It heated up on me yesterday when driving, so today I replace caps and fluid.

Question:
Best way to check for air?! Pretty sure I don't but may.
How do I know pump is correct for belts? Understand there are two styles that look the same, any stampings to note?
Three idle with no fans (manual switch) it got to 240* seemed like thermo didn't open til 200* could be wrong.
This to me makes me feel like its a flow issue.

Hate to change thermo after changing fluid already but am tempted.

Four....is it just me, but no fans...rad shouldn't let car get to 240 in idle

Last bone, does TPI have a fast idle or is that only carb?!

 

if it's heating up while driving, is your air dam missing, by chance?...

you kinda need that peice of plastic.

when i threw mine off my tpi after i lowered it, i damn near blew a head gasket.

 

I do have it, center section but not in best condition.
Never really ever seen replacement.

But would effect moving tempts just not idle tempts

 

Have you tried another gauge or IR gun?

 

Try the thermo anyways. Mine was starting to stick at the set temperature it was supposed to open at so sometimes the temp would go down and sometimes it would keep rising. Also check the knock sensor if it has never been changed. Those can cause the temp to have a false reading also. Good luck!

 

I didn't 3ven think of knock sensor and I can see why that would play apart in it.
I am pretty much on the same thing.

Today, I started the car.
Ran it up to 190 per gauge on new radiator cap and interior gauge.
Thermo seemed to open and car warmed to 215 and back down to 200, were it stayed.

I ran for 25mins as if I was stuck in traffic.

Never budged and I ran car idle at 1000rpm.

So here is the question,
Replace or not replace, either way...any way to test prior to driving....really can't do a breakdown and tow?

 

Found one pin in the connector for CTS pulled out, probably never made contact. Pain in butt to get back in, but phew did...no damage. Test run tomorrow, cross fingures