Cooling problem

Hello,

I am having an issue with the cooling system on my 1997 CIVIC LX 1.6 liter non VTEC D16Y7 motor.
The car is overheating at times and acts to me as if it has an air bubble in the head or somewhere in the system. I have replaced the thermostat, the top radiator hose and the heater return line hose.
The heater return hose went bad and started this series of events. After replacing the heater hose and thermostat my brother drove the car to work and it overheated on the way to work so he removed the thermostat on the side of the road and made it to work without it on the way home the top radiator hose exploded and ripped about a 6 inch tear in the hose.
Amazingly he had a 2 inch roll of electrical tape in the trunk and wrapped the hose with it and was able to make it home (about 20 miles) and it did not leak at all.

We have now taken the water pump off and replaced it, the thermostat (again), the radiator cap, and a timing belt and are hoping this fixes the problem.
Can anyone offer any help in this mater?

Jack

I can't remember if that one has a bleeder near the t/stat. If it does, crack it open when the engine is cool. If that thing has been overheated a few times I'm sure the head gasket let loose.

Thank you. We do not think the head gasket is bad as there is no water in the crankcase and no oil in the radiator and the compression is #1-150 #2-150 #3-148 #4-145 That is not too bad but if the gasket has gone bad it is most likely in the #4 hole.