OK, so I have slowly been getting my '12 Rubicon going again. Posted some thread replacing the timing set, rockers, lash adjusters, couple of phasers and cams, water pump and thermostat. Later, replaced the transmission with a reman'd, McLeod hydraulic clutch. max mass flywheel and B&M shifter.

Worked well for a while, then got coolant heat creep. It only heats up when driving so did the usual initial, burp the system and no luck. It was an aftermarket thermostat so replace that. I had a brand new Gates. Installed it and nope same thing.

I know the aftermarket thermostats are always suspect, so later today I am headed into the dealer to pick up a Mopar thermostat.

Coolant is moving. No air bubbles and only heating up with load. At idle it goes right back to center of the gauge. It has never gone above 2/3 of the gauge. That is leading me back to the thermostat and going with an OEM.

I will update this thread with results this weekend.