Coolant system troubles and heater core hole

[apstguy]

There was a little puddle of coolant under my truck wednesday so I popped the hood and it was coming from the heater hose where it went to the heater core. One of the hoses looked like it had never been replaced. It was glued on! I went to Kragens and got new heater hoses, upper radiator hose, heavy duty thermostat, seal, clamps, and coolant. Came home and changed all the hoses & flushed it out many times. (Lower radiator hose was replaced not too long ago and still looks new) I had oodles of fun getting on of the heater hoses off since it was so old it glued itself to the firewall and the heater core. Everything went well. Next day I am on the freeway with the hear on and I give it a little gas to pass someone. SPLOOSH! I get coolant all over the passenger footwell. &^#$! So lucky me gets to replace the heater core! They didn't have the heater core in stock so I put bypass caps on the radiator and engine. DO you guys have any tips on replacing the heater core? (IE, how to get the ventilation system out)

Now I am without heat or A/C. Seems like the ventilation system is useless now.

My radiator hose inlet on the engine was quite corroded, but it was mostly superficial. The thermostat was rusty and the intake manifold's coolant pathways were bright orange rust. Is that normal? I'm glad I replaced my thermostat because it looked quite old. It could have failed any time.

I should have known it was the heater core when I hooked it up to the garden hose to flush it and the water ran out bright ornge rust for quite a long time.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!