I don't ascribe to the "Everyone is a special snowflake" or the "10,000 hours of practice" theories but it's probably too soon to give up.

Being competent/able to work on your own stuff is completely different than being a pro mechanic though. Maybe that's not your calling, more of a hobby you can enjoy just for yourself and not as a livelihood.

You'll figure the cooling out eventually.

 

thanks. I'm not giving up but was planning on trying to get a job in a garage after I finished my class seeing as I have done virtually all suspension work, a decent amount if engine work, and an engine swap. but there is still a lot I haven't done.

I will be doing the flush this weekend. I hope it solves things. I'm going to undo the radiator hoses and heater core hoses and clean up where they connect at the same time in case that may be the problem but its almost certainly a clog somewhere. I will be getting new hoses soon too if a new radiator is not in order, if so radiator will be first. I got a flat the other day and a new set of tires is in order now as well . the other 3 are all pretty bad and well below the wear bars. I had to put on the 27 year old spare but it did its job. I think its just time to park it for a while, as much of a hard decision that is for me. I'm not a collector, I'm a driver so having my favorite car sit eats at me. I only get to drive it 6 months since the other 6 are snow up here.

 

I drained the radiator only and flushed it. it was clear and flowed good and fast right from the get go. I didn't have time to do the heater core so I'll have to drain it one more time. it was warm today and the car only seemed to have a problem up steep inclines again (idle overheat is still gone). could it be one of my hoses collapsing under load as well?

I'm still wondering about my shimming of the water pump pulley and if thats the problem. This weekend I will grind the housing down a bit so I don't need the shims. could be it right there, just belts slipping under load so its not circulating the coolant efficiently.

 

Buy a god damn temp gauge.