PaulJ2 wrote:
Need some history here. Was it a constant problem that has gotten worse? Or did it just start to overheat suddenly? What parts were replaced for that money?
Can only guess without more information. Some details please.
Ok, see it overheats almost at once. Agree no water circulation.
Did they replace water pump with the wrong one? Serpentine belt driven pumps operate counterclockwise, v belt ones operate clockwise. They have been known to mix them up.
Usually I would rule out the water pump in this situation but you do bring up a good point. The GM engine is used in Marine applications which means they have CW and CCW rotation engines. Many GM water pumps are bi-directional but I guess it is possible that the wrong water pump was installed. A check of the water pump part number should confirm if it is the correct part.
Naturally you want to check oil pressure. A failed oil pump can cause things to get hot quickly.