89 Blazer running hot - at my wits end...

[Blue85]

How stiff is the fan clutch when you turn it by hand? If the engine is hot and you just turned it off, that clutch should feel pretty stiff. Some of them are really never good out of the box. I think there is an "HD" version available that works better. How hot does the radiator feel? Have you pulled the water pump off to look at it yet?

 

[rayfin]

Are you sure the temp gauge is accurate? Could there be a wiring problem in the dash?

I did have a bad gauge do that once in a 1990. It showed 230 at 180.

 

[Justin V]

I suggest getting a Infrared temp gun and actually confirming temps at places like the top and then bottom of the radiator, t-stat area, water pump, heater hoses. My factory gauge has always ran hot. But laser temps never showed higher than 201°.