Overheating Checklist

Drove my car yesterday in 80 degree weather at 35 mph and had no issues at ½ turn on the GAV. Measured ~180F on the head, hottest temp around cylinder #2. Exhaust manifold was around 350F. If I go 45 my car starts to run rough. Will report temps at that speed in the next few days.
 
Have you checked for a leak at the intake / exhaust manifolds?
To do so use starting fluid and spray it all around the gasket surfaces while the car is at idle. If the engine changes speed when doing so you have a leak and it could be the cause of your rough running issues at higher speeds.
 
1crosscut said:
Have you checked for a leak at the intake / exhaust manifolds?
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Yes I have and didn't detect anything. Then again I sprayed starting fluid in the intake and it didn't do anything either. My idle is rough so it's not easy to detect. I was thinking of getting one of those smoke machines and putting it in the intake and exhaust and see if I find anything.
 
Took a drive today going around 45-50 and didn't have any problems oddly enough. Though I did notice that it was spitting out coolant when I was going up a steep grade. Pulled over and measured the temps - 180F max on the head, and 450F for the exhaust manifold.

I don't think it's overheating anymore since I'm running it richer than before. But maybe it gets a little hot up a steep hill and then is fine when it's on level ground.
 
I think the next thing to check would be the head gasket, as some like Dave have suggested. I don't have a thermostat added in mine (yet). I'll most likely do this in the winter since it doesn't affect driving around town too much.
 
Wick said:
With the head off,take and stick a magnet in the rear water jacket of the block, use a old broken band saw blade to work loose the crud buildup. This will take a couple of hours to get it all clean.
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Been there, done that and boy, what a boring, tedious job. I bet you will be amazed by what comes out of the block but now that you have stirred it all up. I HIGHLY recommend you use a filter in the top hose to prevent the bits you missed blocking up the radiator.
 
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