Crazy Cooling Issues

[NickGT20]

1995 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD Automatic. the trans cooler is external and not built into the radiator..

My original plastic radiator got a small crack at the top so I pulled it out and put in a nice big aluminum racing style radiator which is much thicker. Before putting it in I flow tested it with a garden hose to make sure there was no major issues. Now I hear a bubbling it sounds just like the water is boiling in the head however the temp gauge reads normal. The lower rad hose stays cold. So I pulled the thermostat and put a new one in. I even checked the new one prior to installation with hot water and a thermometer. Same Issue. So then I was thinking water pump may be bad but I can see the water moving with the filler cap off and with it on and reving the engine I can feel the line fill with water.

My only other thought was that my head gasket was leaking and I'm hearing exhaust sneaking into the cooling system but I hear the noise even with the car off. It doesn't seem to be losing any coolant either. When I pull the cap after a 2 mile trip it spews radiator fluid everywhere however. I even tried a new cap. Same thing.

Anybody have any ideas?

Oh and oil/ coolant are both clean and don't have any evidence of cross contamination due to a bad head gasket.

 

[TALONTRAX]

It`s normal for the lower radiator hose to be somewhat cooler or even cool to the touch when at operating temperature. If I understand correctly, your concern is the gurgling sound you`re hearing, & not any overheating or running hot issues, correct? It seems to me that your cooling system is operating normally other than the noise, based on what you described. It`s possible that you have a stubborn air pocket in the cooling system thst needs to be "burped" out. Btw . . . is the heat working ok ? Inconsistent heat would be a sign of an air-bound system . . .