Pressure in cooling system

[RonzLT4]

Since this is the most helpful forum I've ever visited, I thought I would take advantage of owners who are obviously far more familiar with cooling system problems. L O N G story short--I blew a head gasket on my 96 CE 25,000 miles ago and unfort had to purchase a new head after the piston pounded part of a valve seat into the head. I had water on the dipstick and bad compression in #2 cyl, so it wasn't too difficult to figure it out. Found new head in the box with same die #'s and did the work, inclu new water pump. All compression chks on both sides were within 7-10% of each other at 90,000 miles so I felt lucky. Other than valve jobs on both sides, that's it for major work.
Now, I have overheating and far too much pressure in the cooling system. Temp would go beyond peg if I was dumb enough to let it, so it's beyond the stat, or leaves, air dam, etc. Obv, I autom think head gasket. No water in oil, and compression #'s haven't really moved much. Pulled the pump and no leak from weep hold and it seems tight. Pulled the head anyway that showed a little compress # variation and it had zero leak patterns. Compress on other side is dead on with 3-4 lb/sq inch variance.
Can anybody out there smarter than myself (there has to be legions re cooling systems) give me some guidence?? Devoted to LT4 and very tired of wife's *****ing to move up to C-5.