coincidentally i'm having heat issues with my '91 1liter manual .... 325k .... worn out but still better than many. long story ... i don't want to bore folks. i replaced a rad fan motor switch and pressure cap and the heat rise has evened out in the old lower / normal range. my problems now only arise after a long hill climb or sometimes when idling after getting off the freeway. the fan and / or circulation will not bring the temperature back to normal. may be a partially opened tstat.
i will replace the tstat today and will order a water pump. i like to do repairs one item at a time if possible. the haynes manual shows the original tstat with an air bleed hole that should be mounted toward the top ... and i have not removed the old [original probably] one yet. the new tsat does not have a bleed and i've considered drilling one if desirable. i don't often need to fill the rad but it's no problem to 'burp' them at a fluid change.