drving along yesterday when all of a sudden this smell starts coming through my vents, look at the temp gauge and its almost at the Hot line, when i pulled over all steam starts coming out the bonnet. i had a quick look but it was important i got home so i let it cool down for about 15 mins then drove for 5 mins home. by the time i got home the motor was pinging, thermo fans going crazy and temp gauge almost at the H line.

turns out theres a hairline crack in the side of the radiator, going in the shop on tuesday, but im worried now i mite have done some head damage, considering i almost burnt myself touching the rocker cover 3 hours after the car had been switched off.
ive been told not to even drive it to the radiator shop and if i have to drive it, to fill it up with coolant before i go and to drive with the radiator cap off so it doesnt pressurize?? is that true..

the car was running at the very top of the 'normal' part on the temp gauge for about 10 mins

any serious damage you guys rekon???

sounds about right but I would leave rad cap on, only dont screw/clip it down.
Click type lock, only put on first click.
Screw on type, screw down till washer touches then unscrew one half turn.

Put some tape or even plasticene over crack if you can get to it but wouldn't worry too much.

If you're ever in a boiling car again and stop near a tap just run tap water through rad fins, even spraying from rear, to cool car down before stopping engine.

Probably haven't done anything but only time will tell.

Grumbles

should be ok.
like grumble said fill up the radiator and overflow bottle and only click the cap on one click. this way the cooling system will not pressurise and wont leak as much.