First off thanks for all the replys guys.

The reason I replaced the pump on the 01 motor was because I had just recently bought the pump for the old motor (original on the 99 was leaking after 160k ) The pump has less than 3,000 miles on it as does the thermostat as I replaced both at the same time. If I were to try a manual guage where do you guys usually install them? On the motor that is. Is there an available port in the head?

 

The standard location for the temperature sending unit is at the front of the drivers side head. Since both heads are the same, you will have an unused port on the rear of the passenger side.

 

Well I drove the truck again last night. Still haven't put a manual guage on it but it is definitely running hot. I haven't let it get over 230 but after I shut it down I could hear it boiling over thru the upper radiator hose and into the reservior. I think I'm going to pull the thermostat and be sure nothing is blocking flow. May do the same with the pump. Or maybe I'll try to flush the entire system first and see what happens. This is irritating as hell I'm supposed to get this thing tuned soon but this has to get fixed first.
Has anyone had problems overheating from not having their computer tuned? Overly lean or rich mixtures causing problems????

 

Your headers would be glowing but your engine wouldn't overheat.

 

Well after changing water pump and thermo once more for good measure. And bleeding countless times I finally think I have this thing fixed. It may be hard to believe but it was all in the tune. Well half the problem was in the tune and the other half was due to an extremely dirty MAF. The MAF was causing a lean condition on top of the stock tune being lean with the new cam. First pull on the dyno they had to let out just a couple of seconds after WOT because a/f was so wack. The truck is completely different now. Thanks to GOMER and Walkers Dyno in Trussville. 251ft.lbs and 268hp. With stock exhaust manifolds!!!

 

Glad that you got it worked out!