Truck Overheated Today

[smh292]

I was driving my truck today for about 30 minutes and I started to hear a little noise under the hood. When I stopped at a light I saw steam coming from under the hood. I pulled over and shut the truck off but it continued "dieseling" for about 10 seconds until I put it in reverse to stall it out. I popped the hood and everything has antifreeze all over it. It looked like the overflow container lid blew off and that is where it spewed from. I let it sit and cool, then I refilled the radiator and when I tried to start the truck, it made a bit of a weird noise while it cranked. I tried turning the key a few times and it cranked like this, but then it stopped cranking at all. After I let it sit for about another 1/2 hr I put the gas pedal to the floor and cranked it and it fired up and I limped home. Once I was home I let it cool down and then a couple hrs later when I went to pull it in my garage it seems to still make a weird noise when I turn the key. It still started though. I guess my question is, did I mess anything up and how can I check? Once the truck is running, it sounds fine.

The truck is a 1971 C-10 longbed with a 350 4 barrel and an auto tranny. About 2 months ago I had a leak in the radiator so I replaced the radiator, hoses, and thermostat. I also added an overflow container. Before it just had a tube that dumped down on the ground. The new rad did not have a second hole for the heater hose so I connected that to the plug on the water pump. Could the overflow tank be the problem? How bout the new location for the heater hose?

I have driven the truck on weekends for the past 2 months and haven't had a problem till today. I guess I should definitely flush the system and add the proper water/antifreeze mix again. Any help is appreciated.

[smh292]

Forgot to say I put a new radiator cap on too when I did the radiator.

[84_4x4]

blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head is a possibility i would pull plugs and check them for antifreeze

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by smh292

Forgot to say I put a new radiator cap on too when I did the radiator.

did you use the proper type of cap for a sealed system? original type caps wont work properly and was the overflo tank vented?

[truckdude239]

my hoses are run to intake and water pump on the heater

[smh292]

I replaced the cap with new one of the same type that was on the truck before. What cap do I need? Also the overflow tank is not vented. Does this need a vented cap?

[cdowns]

you need a cap for a overflo recovery system so when the motor cool the overflo gets sucked back into the radiator// most autopart stores will sell the whole for the coolant overflo system its preengineered to work properly and not explode

[smh292]

I'll try a new cap. Do you think that is what caused it to overheat though?

[smh292]

I checked and I have a Stant 11330 cap on the truck. On their website it says that the cap is designed for systems with an overflow tank. I looked up the cap for a new C-10 truck and the part @ would be an 11231. What should I do?

[smh292]

Can anyone answer my question on the cap? I bought a comression test kit and I plan on testing that. I also noticed the oil level was down a little. Could that have been a cause of the overheating? When I drain the system I will test the thermostat.