I will keep fitment issues in mind as I proceed. I honestly won't be too disappointed if I have to go the same route that you did if I see the same results. Looks like it won't make a very dramatic difference in whichever comes first.

 

One thing I don't see covered in these threads about the inline conversion, is the hoses after the install. What did you do w the hose that comes from the reservoir? How did you re route the lower hose?

 

You don't necessarily re-route anything at the lower part of the system. You are removing the center hose and running a modified hose from there straight to the lower radiator outlet. When you pull the middle hose the thermostat comes out with it and the bypass has been eliminated. The 2 smaller hoses going to expansion tank and heater stay unaffected.
Its the same thing as the upper section, where you are trying to go straight to the radiator by cutting out the bypass loop to the factory thermostat housing.

 

I think I'm more confused than before. Lol. If anyone has pics I'd appreciate it.

 

gasket,
Working on the mod today. Would like to get in touch with you as your availability permits. See PM. Thanks.

 

See CappedUps photo attached. He managed to get the stat in front of the adapter. Anyway, I am going to tape the threads on the petcock as you did, but wondering if you taped the threads at the beginning, or at the very end of the project when you finished purging the air out? I don't think the tape would hold up after tightening/loosening several times to bleed the air out.

 

I got the mod completed on my truck today using thermostat behind the bleeder adapter. On the cold start it idled at 180 degrees for 1 hour. Took it for a 10 minute drive and temp creeped up to 190 before I turned around and drove straight home quickly. Parked and idled back down to 183. Level of coolant in header tank was lower so I shut it down and see what burps out overnight; maybe just air causing the spike. Hopefully all is OK for morning commute. Will post numbers.

Turns out 189 is the is the very max of operating temp range. Tends to hold 183-185 98% of the time but that 4 degree spike to 189 is the highest it will go. I am extremely delighted with this setup and the addition of the factory oil cooler. My confidene in this truck handling the 105 degree Dallas summers is at 100 percent. With the old factory system I had to keep the AC fan on high and the heat turned up to distribute the pressure and keep the temp spikes under 205, so I'm also pleased that I get to actually put the fan on whatever speed and whenever i want to, reducing the drag on the engine and run-time on the compressor. It has literally been on full blast, high heat for 1 year straight! Hopefully any of you guys reading these threads on the cooling system mod have enough facts and info to make the informed decision to go ahead make the switch.
1 important thing that I would like to add as part of all the write-ups and how-to's on the install is the removal and replacement of the bottom radiator hose is unnecessary. Without having to modify anything on the lower section, once the LR thermostat and upper hose "Tee" is removed, the upper bypass loop from the lower "Wye" can be coupled with the short radiator hose with anything from a plastic 1.5 inch hot-tub/spa coupler to a 1.5 x 3-inch long galvenized tube with threads on each end for holding spines. Add a couple of clamps and call it done.