Radiator question?

[White70C20]

I have been dealing with a stubborn coolant leak ever since I bought the truck in October. It started with a bad t-stat housing. Then I had problems with a plug on the top of the new t-stat housing leaking. In the process of changing the housings I noticed that the radiator drained fairly quickly. Yesterday, I finally had time to fix the leaking plug. While draining the radiator, I noticed it was draining really slowly. It got to the point that it quit draining, but the radiator was still half full. I undid the plug on the housing, and coolant gushed out.
Has anyone had this happen, and what did you do to fix it?
Posted via Mobile Device

[BHyatt]

I wonder if there has been a ton of Rislone or Aluminum seal dumped in the system in the past that is creating issues.

[sjarrett71]

Did coolant gush out of the housing or the radiator. If it came gushing out of the radiator when you undid the plug on the housing I'm thinking it was a vacuuum issue. If it came came gushing out of the hole where the plug was maybe your radiator is clogged.

[White70C20]

Coolant gushed out the plug hole in the housing. I'm not sure what to do about it, shy of replacing the radiator. It looks fairly new, and there's evidence the engine has been replaced.
Posted via Mobile Device

[sjarrett71]

Oh, Ok. I just replaced my radiator and once the flow out of the petcock slowed down I took the radiator cap off and it started again. Once all the fluid was out and I removed the radiator I looked into the lower hose opening and it was full of crap.

[White70C20]

Ok, thanks. Maybe mine's just full crud too.

Also, on a somewhat related note: The temp gauge needle is missing. Rather than tear into the dash and replace the stock gauge I was thinking about putting an aftermarket gauge under the dash. Where have you guys mounted yours so you don't rack your knees?
Posted via Mobile Device

[c10srule]

under the heater controls

[bk2life]

Originally Posted by White70C20

The temp gauge needle is missing. Rather than tear into the dash and replace the stock gauge

tear into the dash? 8 screws hardly isnt tearing into the dash.

just replace the facotry temp gauge. by the time you mount the new one, run the power, ground, temp probe to the motor, just take the 10 mins and remove your gauges and fix it correctly.