Do you still have the original flat head six in your car?  If so, there should be a water distribution tube in the block, that will often rust and block the water distribution making the engine overheat!  Sorry I can't remember how this tube is removed from block, but a good shop manual should help!  Hope this will help!  Bob.

Is the temp gauge tell you is overheating? I think on your engine you have the electric gauge, if i'm right they are not so reliable.

If yes, I would suggest to use a infrared thermometer and look directly on the engine.

If directly on the engine there is really overheat, the back of the engine block is moslty full to the head of crap/mud/rust and it will need a physical action with a screw driver, compress air and water hose by freeze plug, and preferably the head removed. You can anyway doing a good job by the plug only to clean it.

Did you inspect the distribution tube when replacing the water pump? When the pump is on the bench, you can pull the distribution tube mostly by hand from the pump water hole passage in the block. If this tube is missing the back of the block, mostly near the exhaust passage, will missing fresh liquid.

Let us know.

Fitz.

wwdaze wrote:

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Hello Everyone:
Well the car is not overheating as I first suspected but it seems to be a grounding problem. The generator (12 volt) is putting out 12.5 volts but the regulator is putting out 16.5. I changed the system from 6 to 12 volts some years ago so now we will try to trace the ground problem that is making the temp gauge read funny. Thanks for the help and I will keep you posted.

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 did you put a 12 to 6 volt resister in the temp guage [if electric]  maybe thats gone in the "pooper"