Radiator Cap to start with...

 

And finally the car

 

I just checked again the thermostat with putting boiling water in a bowl and it kinda opens but not totally. the one side of the ring opens totally to fit a quarter through but the other side doesnt open so in other words it opens kinda slanted. i wonder how much is it supposed to open.

 

Looks like a 351W w/auto trans? correct?

It should open evenly all the way around so if it tilted it's sticking - looks like it's seen better days I'd replace it. Stant makes a Superstat that is stronger/thicker if you can find one local. I can't make out what temp yours is but would suggest a 180*or 192/5*. I wouldn't suggest a 160*, it will open too often and just recirculate hot water as it won't have time to cool in the rad. I also don't see a bypass hole on that Tstat, some have it already, if not just drill an 1/8" hole in the outer edge so that a squirt of water is always spitting through, that way if it sticks you still have some circulation, make sure the hole points up like at 12o'clock when installed.

Good pics, we can see that the bypass hose is in place, hoses are all connected. I take it you have an electric fan but can't see it. What CFM is it supposed to pull? What model/part# is it? some of them claim to pull a lot of air and don't. Is the electric fan on a temp switch or manual on always? what size is it (17", etc.).

It looks like your rad. is large enough (size?) has it been cored or is it newer. Does the lower rad. hose have a spring in it?

 

oK i found out a couple of things, on the end of the pulley that the fan sits i have a flex fan installed but it was installed direct on to the pulley without the spacer that came with the original fan. i just noticed that. and i also noticed that the fan was backwards as it would only fit one way without the spacer. ill take some pics and send them shortly. so now there is alot more air pull than before. Alot!! and also, i installed the hose and elbow without the thermostat. here in cyprus we have hot dry summers and not very cold winters. today was 100 degrees. yesterday the same so maybe with the fan not doing its job 100% and the thermostat sticking, and 100 degree weather, dunno. what you guys think??

 

You'd be amazed how much difference a backwards fan makes. More than once I've seen a chronically overheating engine cool down to completely normal operation just by flipping the fan around the way it's supposed to be.

 

took her out for a spin mind you its like 12 midnight over here and didnt overheat. now i got no thermostat in place and i got my fan right side and have placed the spacer in between the pulley and fan which brings it about 3 inches closer to the radiator and within the fan shroud so all the air is sucked out rather than as it was before coming out the sides. i will order a new stat as all u and jonk said and see how it goes. someone said to me if im not using the heat then the hell with having a thermostat installed. is he right or should I have one installed? is it safe to drive the way i have it?

 

Don't get rid of that beautiful car!

 

Safety has nothing to do with it. Your engine will not give you maximum power or fuel economy if it's running cold, not to mention increased corrosion and oil sludge problems. Your engine was designed to run it's best at 190°, even if it was not equipped with a heater.

 

I would start investing in a new timing cover. The corrosion I am pointing to is a coolant leak from the inside out. There are 2 coolant passages that pass through the timing cover to the water pump. The timing cover is alluminum and when it corodes and rust beats at it, it looks like melted lead battery terminals.