Re: 3.0L cyl. head
See this is the perfect example of someone buggering up a system by adding stuff that just don't belong, probably worked for 20 years then sold the boat knowing there were all kinds of problems.
1- install a new impeller, why i didn't post to check it is it already overheated and to go to the trouble of checking it you might as well install a new one.
2- If it were my boat i would yank the heat exchanger, that didn't come standard on a 3.0 omc 1989 motor. Go to a raw water cooled system.
3- Heater core in the cabin got to go.
4- You say you checked the riser and the manifold, did you check to see if the flapper broke off and is blocking the exhaust tube or fell down and is jammed into the lower part of the exhaust??
Pull the long hose that connects to the t-stat from the transom and see if pieces of a impeller is blocking the hose.
After you did all i posted above give it a run on the water after AFTER YOU DO A FULL TUNE UP and have it idling between 600-700 rpm in the water in gear.. 650 is good.
Post the results.
Good luck !