Cheers for the input chaps.

rad is perfect and not that old, its a new core and has brass end caps, fans cut in perfectly, as said they're 2 10" kenlowe's. i have a bailey alloy expansion tank too. The gap between my rad and IC is also approx 3 inches, with the fans on the the IC. Not tried the water wetter stuff but i flushed the cooling system not long ago, and again as far as i know its in good working order, the water pump is 18 months old and was fitted at NMS at the time of the last setup. and she's been antifreezed up ever since.

mine heats up nicely, she's into the norm within 2 minutes even in winter and the thermostat works afaik. the thing is she doesn't cool down again. once the fans cut in they dont cut out until i switch the engine off at the other end. the needle is rarely below "2 o'clock" position. i've tried driving steady and keeping moving (been out late at night testing at various speeds and constand driving as well as start stop in the cooler evenings. still same prob, she does run slightly cooler but not enough to cut the fans.

it never occoured to me though that it might be the timing or fuelling. As i said i wanted to get the issue sorted before i got it setup, but i'm thinking now this might be the cure. Not sure... Joe.

edit, also i had bonnet raisers on ages ago. they do nothing for cooling at all, and i will agrue that to the grave. also with them fitted my bonnet popped up twice, both times caught by the latch thankfully! the second time was enough of a wakeup to see it wasn't coincidence and i got them off shaprish. vented bonnet could be a way forward though.