The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop overheating, but maybe not...

I think you all are heading down the right path with checking the vitals with an external thermometer. However, one thing to look into if the readings are high is to check for plugged up passages.

This would require draining the coolant, and removing the petcock from the rear of the block. Removing it totally will allow you to pick around with a wire coat hanger or something. Sometimes the crud restricts things and wont allow the cooling system to do it job.