Ok, maybe this is all fine, or maybe it’s catastrophic, so come one come all and make me believe there’s some hope…
Disconnected the radiator fan wires from the switch, bridged them, and both turned on and sounded great, sucking air from both sides.
Reconnected to the switch, checked the overflow tank, and took the car out for a spirited run, getting the temp up to 180, then parked in the driveway and idled.
Radiator reservoir tank was 2/3 full.
And then it began. At 190 degrees and rising, the flood was under way, as the overflow hose erupted, spewing a steady stream of molten-hot magma on the drive.
When the temp got to about 230, the fans turned on (too high, right?). They ran for two-three minutes, then shut off, not really lowering the temperature very much.
On the good side, the overflow eruption ceased at this point.
Being out of my league, technically, I decided to not wait and see which way the temperature would go next, and shut down the engine.
At what temperature would the rest of you chicken-out and shut the car down?
Finally, while the car‘s in motion and driving, the temperature rarely, if ever, exceeds 190.
Here‘s the order of that story, in photo-form. Thanks folks.
Fans turned on and then off at this point…