My husband's '83 F250 overheats on and off going

Some thing too check:
Make sure coolant level is up to line and clean (not dirty, do to clogged radiator, may need to be flushed or replaced).
Make sure air flow through the out side of radiator is clear (dirt, leaves, ect..) .
Make sure fan is working properly equip t (is not running too slow). Or Manual (belt driven) fan clutch is working properly, not loose or spinning too freely?
Check for broken or cracked fan blades itself.
Check radiator cap, (no gasket tears).
Could be thermostat going bad ?
Could be coolant temperature Relay or sensor/switch (from computer) going bad?
Check radiator hose(s) (too soft, may collapse)?
In some rare cases:
Timing could be off.
Could be water pump.
Could be blown head gasket(s).
Could have cracked head(s).
ECT..............Hope this was some help???