Engine seems to be running hot???

But the plugs show a lean condition?

The engine seems to be runing at a higher temp then it should but the plugs are black an sooty.

Any ideas?

Maybe check the timing, also if it's running to lean it will get hotter but if the plugs are sooty it sounds a bit rich.
Mike

i'm with mike on this one. black and sooty means rich. rich is usually cool-running, lean condition will increase the temps.

have any of you guys considered running a cylinder head temp sensor along w/ oil temp sensor to see the relationship? nothing complex, just a temporarily mounted gauge and a thermocouple under the spark plugs?

Check the timing at idle. I don't recall the timing specs, but if it is firing After TDC, the first section of the exhaust pipes will be glowing. It won't be too bad while running revved up, but idling about town will have the motor cooking. I discovered this when I retarded the tming after installing hot coils and opening up the sparkplug gap. The proper way was to close up the slots so it would not advance as far as stock, but it was late at nite and I had to ride in the morning
You may have an advance that no longer fits tight to the cam, if so, it will slip to a retarded position normally.