Hot under the collar (well not really)

The Mg was pressed into daily service to and from work for a couple of weeks with the only running problem being the very poor performance from the heater and the low reading from the temperature gauge. I put the first issue down to the fact it was an MG and the second down to the cold weather and the fact that my drive to work is only about 9 miles. I made plans to improve the performance of the heater, especially the feeble blower which hardly seemed to move any air at all. I bought a secondhand fan from a Suzuki Vitara which is larger and suitable for three speed operation with a switch to suit. I only intended to fit it and run it at full speed for the time being. Like most of my ideas this is currently on the back burner and on the nice to do list. Besides the weathers getting better now.
The heater core was flushed out as was the rad and the engine block. No improvement to the heater after that. I managed to get a new heater valve at a bargain brice and fitted that. Although I now had full control of the flow of water through the heater the output was still nonexistant.
What with the low reading on the temperature gauge reading in degrees F. I had no real idea what the engine temperature was. So I did some sums and it turns out that 90 degrees F is only about 50 degrees C. That'll be why the heater is poor then. Doh. Just in case the gauge was at fault I used an infrared temperature gun from work to read the true temperature at the thermostat housing/top of the radiator. The reading on the gauge was confirmed as right. Either the thermostat was sticking open and due to the weather it was over cooling the engine (what with the mechanical fan being always on as well) or the thermostat was stuck shut with the only water flow being the bypass hole in the thermostat allowing the temperature in the rad to go up some.
Thermostats being cheap I replaced it. Still no change. Engine running cool. Decided to remove the thermostat completely and check the difference in case the water pump impeller had sheered off (unlikely I know but you never know). There was certainly more flow visible through the radiator cap hole but still not great and no real difference to the temperatures achieved.
I decided to remove the fan block the rad core with cardboard and take it for a drive. A lap round the block should be enough to get the temperature up. I did this giving the car a good thrashing, but still no rise in the gauge reading it refused to get above 110 degrees F. I let the car idle on the drive for what seemed like an age. It then promptly boiled over. And I didn't have my infrared gun to hand. The water was comming out from around the rad cap and out the overflow. I know what'll fix it. SPend some money. New water pump, new rad new cap. At least everything will be new and in good condition.
I removed the rad then the water pump. It only had 3 bolts as a previous repairer had managed to shear off a seized bolt. Not a problem I'll weld a nut on the stud and the heat will loosen it enough to undo it from the block. Attempt 1. The weled nut rung off taking 1/4" of stud with it (at least my weldings ok). Attempt 2. The welded nut rung off taking 1/4" of stud with it. Third and final attempt (there was only 3/8" of stud left to weld to. The welded nut rung off taking the last part of the broken stub with it. I now had no choice I had to drill it out. Access was easy as the rad was already out. I had to destroy the old pump so I could bolt the main part of the body back on giving a jig of sorts to drill the brocken bolt out with. This worked out ok and I managed to run a tap down the thread to freshen it up. I did the others while I had the tap to hand.
All the new parts were fitted with no real bother. The engine was started and the temperatures finally started to climb. I managed to get a reading of 93 degrees C at the top of the rad after a period of idleing on the driveway. The only thing is the gauge was still reading 110 F. I took out the capillery sender and it was coated in gunge. I cleaned it and before refitting I dumked it into a cup of freshly boiled water. No change. I've now ordered a new gauge as well.
Un able to upload pictures at the moment will try later.