[crazyhorse]

OK, my bad for just "skimming" the posts. Please disregard my earlier post.

Have you had a timing light on the car? I'm not entirely sure that these engines can get out of time, from an ignition standpoint. I do know that both an advanced timing issue, along with a lean fuel issue can cause overheating under heavy loads. Combine these two, and you can have a chronic overheating problem. I've run my 2300 Ford advanced & lean for a long time, it runs a nice neat 225deg. It also is an all cast iron engine, so it can stand the heat. It adds a few HP, but not any huge leaps. You can feel it in the "butt dyno" though.
An emissions sniffer test will show a lean condition. A timing light will show any anomolies in that. I'm assuming that the only way to get these engines "out of time" is to slip the T-Belt.

Just the random ramblings of a random mind.