Up-date Head-gaskets, still the same

Hi, Well i got it all back together last Sunday, but i havent cured the problems, im getting white smoke (steam) on start up, but could this be the automatic choke? because after awhile the revs drop to ticking over, also the hoses are getting hard, so much so that i cant squeeze them, is this normal? I havent been for a drive in it yet, so while in my driveway the temp gauge does creep to the red, could i still have a air-lock? Top hose get warm but bottom hose still cold!!! Must be cracked block, would you all agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!

was the head checked and skimmed?

Hi, One had been skimmed and was flat, the other one i got skimmed, i wished i had got the heads pressured tested now, im making a jig at work to do this, what pressure would i use on the heads.

The water hoses should not be rock hard, if so sounds asthough the coolant system is pressurizing. This could be down too not having the head skimmed. Did you check if the liners had dropped or for cracks in them at all??