She overheated 2 weeks ago.

I'd sure like to get this issue corrected. The car has run hot ever since I got it. I tried radiator flush. I replaced the T-Stat. I took the radiator to a radiator shop to have it professionally cleaned. The car just runs hot, and it's kind of scary hot. The needle gets to about 1/4 - 1/8" from the "H."

Just took it for a spin a few minutes ago. It got very hot as described. Then, it cooled down a bit, to where the needle was just a 1/8" - 1/4" above the center.

That indicates to me the T-Stat must be working. Is there a chance that the T-Stat could still be a problem, or are they pretty much "they either work, or they don't?"

Maybe, it's nothing. I let it run a bit, and the tappet went away. There were just a few, small bubbles on the dipstick, but they were small. I doubt there were enough there to indicate a problem.

Could be just that I got worried, with that tappet and all. I still think the oil is thin.

Off to another topic.... running hot. I'll start a new thread for that.

It was asked earlier, "Is there any sign of motor oil in the radiator, especially around the cap?"

How would I check for that? Incidentally, since the car overheated and spewed out the coolant back a few weeks ago, I had to top off the radiator today. It took a lot of water. I didn't measure, but wouldn't be surprised if it took a good couple gallons - maybe more.

Oil on dipstick does not burn with a flame.

It does not appear frothy, milky or bubbly. Should the car run for a bit before testing the appearance of frothiness?

I have not tested for water boiling off from a hot manifold because I wanted to be sure it's okay to run the car until hot if there is indeed water in the oil.

The tappet sounded bad, but I used to correct it by adding about 1 quart above the "full" line.

The oil level on dipstick appears to be at that height - maybe a bit more, but not that much more.

It's just the tappet that made me check the oil, and when I did, it sure seemed thin and runny. Maybe it was the type of oil put in?

Let me know whether I should run the car to do additional checking as described. I can do it if you think it's okay. I just don't want to risk a more serious problem if there is one already.

No. It didn't seem to be milky. Looked like normal oil color. Just thin and runny.

Any other thing to check about the oil?

My car over heated at the same time the fuel pump pin came out. I now have the new fuel pump in, and when I was filling the radiator, I got some bad tappet.

I know about adding the extra quart of oil to remedy tappet due to the poor oil pump design, so I checked the oil level. The problem I see is that the oil sure looks quite thin. It drips too quickly off the stick.

I am concerned I have a cracked block, blown gasket or something.

What is the best way to start looking for the precise cause?

In and running. It was a little harder to put this one in because the lever was not exactly the same. Had to finagle it a bit, but we're good.

Thanks.

Got it. Thanks. I didn't realize how hard you have to push the lever to make it crank.

I now have the Airtex pump and am wondering which of the 2 ports is the inlet and which is the outlet. If I had to guess, I'd say the one at 11:00 is the inlet, and the one at 12:00 is the outlet. I'd like to be sure, though.