Head Gaskets
Our cars are noted for blowing head gaskets, nine times out ten it's because the cooling fan fails and or the temp sensor/ gage gives a false reading. The temp sensor goes bad and reads fine but all the wile the engine is cooking. These cars run hot as it its, you need to get a 180 Tstat, I use one from a early model ford 302 mustang engine. The stock Tstat is a 195 way to hot for me. There are two temp sensors on the engine, the one on the Tstat housing is for the gage the other one that is on the #1 cyl bank on top of the intake is for the fan control. Thats the one that goes bad! The fan has two speeds, high speed runs when the A/C is running low runs at normal driving and shuts off above 45 MPH. You said that you are going to change the fuel pump, do you mean the the water pump? It would be wise to do so that way you know it's good, get a good one though better to spend good money once then bad money twice. Make sure that the rad is good no leaks and that is flowing and not full of junk. I would go with the studs and MLS head gaskets by Fel Pro they are more money but they are the best! the stock replacement gaskets are OK but they will fail over time if you plan on doing any mods to the engine. The head studs are much stronger then the stock bolts and last forever, you will never have to change them also they have a higher torque value then stock bolts. My car has a Coy Miller stage 2 engine 396 RWHP 488 ft lbs torque, 14 lbs of boost,(it brakes parts!) MLS head gaskets lasted six years before they went, do the research on the MLS gaskets and head studs before you dive in. These cars are not easy to work on and not to many people will even touch them, I restored my car from the ground up it took three years, truck loads of money and two years of research before I even opened the hood. Once you learn how to work on these things there not so bad, all the info you need is on this site, use the search tab for the gaskets and the studs you won't be sorry. Like I said better to spend good money once then bad money twice.