[Treeve]

OK, so to get back on topic, you know your head gasket is backwards, but because a thermometer mounted somewhere completely different tells you a low temp you feel OK.

Except that a Windsor gasket mounted backwards would stop all the flow through one of your heads.

So apart from the fact that the heads are the hottest part of the engine, everyone here says the thermometer sitting miles away which isn't getting any hot water because you don't have any flow through one of the hot bits is fine.

I reckon a head gasket it cheap compared to blowing something more seriously. Check it properly, know for sure.

Treeve