Triumph Repair: Triumph Spitfire overheating, replacing head gaskets, catalonia spain

Question

fan bulb Hi Howard,
Please, excuse me for not having answered all your questions. I appreciate very much all your answers and suggestions, do not be angry with me and sorry for my bad English. My thermostat opens at 74 º C, I put a new one in June and changed again in July. I have bought in ebay one block tester kit leak from England but I have not received it yet, when I will receive it I will make the test and I explain you.
I enclose one picture of the temperature transmitter bulb. I have put it off a little of the radiator and I have marked it with a red arrow.
More information to you: I live in Catalonia (Spain) and now in summer and is normal temperatures of 35 or 38º C. The country is not flat like Florida and there are a lot of roads with incline.
I have changed 3 times in two months the head gaskets because the motor leaks oil between the head and block at rear. The last gasket is PAYEN and there is not leaks (for the moment). I have explained this in previous questions.
I am not mechanic, is obvious but I love the little English cars of 60'. I have one MG Midget also.
Regards,
Alfred

Answer
Alfred, there are procedures to follow any time an engine is running hot.

Especially with your history of replacing head gaskets the first thing that must be tested is to find out if there is any CO in the coolant. (this is the test with the dye) This tells if there is any leak of combustion into the cooling system. If there is, then there is no use testing or doing anything to the car until that is corrected.

All thermostats are marked as to their temp value. Most thermostats start to open 20 deg F. before they are open all the way. So it is important to know what rating a thermostat is. (which is always marked on the thermostat)

Your bulb and fan is an add-on aftermarket system and should have helped to keep the engine much cooler than it is. (If the original engine fan is still on the car) If the original engine fan has been removed then you should wire the fan so it runs all the time and discard the fan temp bulb system.

High engine temperatures will also be noted if the engine is not in tune, (timing wrong or carburetor set too lean). You can also have high engine temperatures if you have a low compression version of the Spitfire and you put high octane fuel in it. The fuel must match the compression ratio of the engine.

Your English is not the problem, Your procedures are.
Howard