The synopsis is:

After much reading of old archived emails, posting a couple dumb
questions and receiving a few very helpful responses from list members, my
overheating problem was simply a lack of coolant and some much needed
bleeding of air out of the system.  I also went to my local VW mechanic to
check the cap on the expansion tank to confirm it too was working.

Radiator fan works / comes on when required, hot air from both heaters, no
leaks and a well behaving temp guage...and overall the dreaded air bleed
process wasn't as messy as first imagined.  I used a flat male electrical
connector to pin into the throttle to keep the rpms at around 2,300.  I'll
repeat the whole process again say within a 100 km try and remove some more
air.

Thanks for the help everyone - I can now claim BTDT.

BT
86 Syncro Westy