overheat and then no start

i have a 1971 m35 i had it for a while and one day when i was out it overheated and shut off so i waited for a bit and it started back yp ran for a few mins and shut off again i had to get towed home. so i pulled the therstat out and it did the same thing it runs for a halfhour and shuts off and wont start does any body have any sugg thank you toter

Turns over after it shuts down, but won't start? Try filters.

Does it have coolant in the radiator?

yes the rad is filled and it cranks over fine i was thinking the rad is shot i just dont want to dump 400 on a new one it just started doing this one day out of the blue i have put fuel filters on like 6 months ago and i took off the filter on the pass side
and it has a new fuel pump

In addition to what others said, try adjusting the valves. Tight valves when it is cold could make it lose compression when it gets hot. Besides, if you never did it before, its good PM to perform regardless.

Doe's the temp gauge reflect that it is overheated? What temp?
Or could it be the radiator is overfilled and pushing coolant out untill it finds its own level like they always do?
Could be filters like Gimp said, coupled with the above.

If the filters are clogged it may run a short time and then die due to lack of fuel getting to the IP. Check the primary filter for a bunch of crud on it. Then check the secondaries as well.

the thermostat must be in for correct coolant flow, you cannot run the engine without it. it is not a simple thermostat, it is a three way valve. how do you know it overheats?? when it won't restart does it respond to starting fluid? does it crank at 300 rpm? we need more info, it may not be related to temp at all.

the temp gauge goes up all the way and the deuce shuts off and when it cools down it starts right back up runs for a couple mins and shuts off and no it wont stay running if you hit it with starting fluid starts and dies right out it never did this tell it started overheating iv been working on cars for like 15 years but i just got my deuce 3 years ago so im learnibg as i go well we are learning my wife has a 68 kaiser deuce

im sorry i just dont no to much about the deuces yet

ok im going to get a new themostat before i try anything esle

thank you everyone

im not sure what the rpms are at ill have to check next time i work on it

there is a chemical tester that will look for exhaust in the radiator, most shops should have something like that. you can also test the rad for flow yourself the old school way, remove the upper and lower hose, hold your hand over the lower outlet and fill the rad. when you remove your hand the water should rush out in one big flow.