[rocketraider]

Check the clutch fan first. If it's not functioning properly, car is going to overheat in slow or city driving. It should roar whenever the car is first started and then quiet down, and should also roar way before the car overheats. If you never hear it roar, it's not working.

Next- make sure all the radiator shrouds and seals are in place. If airflow is bypassing the radiator, cooling is not going to be up to snuff.

Is it visibly overheating? Steam, puking out the overflow, knocking? Check the pressure cap making sure it is for a closed system and the right lift pressure.

If it's just the light coming on, check the temp sending unit on the intake. I've seen many of them get the sensing bulb cocked off to one side and ground out against the block, making the hot light come on when car isn't even close to hot. Gage senderswill do the same thing.

For that matter, make sure you have the right sender for your instrumentation. You'd be surprised at the number of cars I've seen with the wrong one installed.