My temp gauge will enter the "normal" range at about 130 degrees, no heat there. About 7:00. You should be able to hold the hose going toward heater core and feel some temperature. I'll go out on a limb of the shade tree and predict when you open up the thermostat housing you will find this pix: an empty thermostat hole. You have never had heat. So engine temps would stay under 150 F. But that just slows down a head gasket leak, may not stop it all together. Buy a thermostat (180 is the one I like), a gasket for it, some RTV in a color you like, and some coolant (some will be lost when you open the thermostat housing). I guess other ways to tell is a stat is actually in there would be to crack open upper rad hose, and crank truck, looking for water pump pressure to immediately start pushing water out (if stat is there and closed it won't); or measure with IR thermometer.

 

Dont make mountains out of mole hills...
Is coolant full?
In the DI tech section is the part number for the gasket for the t-stat, its $2.
Buy a new t-stat, its $10, I use a 195*F, OEM temp is 192*F.
Replacing the t-stat takes 15min.
Replace it and be done with it, at least with a new one you know for 100% that is not the problem.
Then you can address other issues as/if they come up.

 

^^ this is what i will do.. you guys are awesome thank you for your patience.. I am a total noob if you can't tell

 

No problems with being a noob, make sure you put the t-stat in the correct way, the spring goes inside the engine.
If you put it in backwards the truck will overheat.

 

is there a right up on replacing tstat? i found the part number in the sticky for the gasket

 

No write up needed, follow the upper radiator hose to the engine, take it off.
Remove the 2 bolts that hold the t-stat housing on the engine, that is the thing the radiator hose attaches too.
Using a emery cloth or fine grit sand paper clean all of the old gasket material off of the t-stat housing and engine.
Dry them both.
Put new t-stat in, spring facing in, put on new gasket.
Hand tighten both bolts, then tighten them with your ratchet equally so that the t-stat and t-stat housing mate level.
Put radiator hose back, refill coolant.
Done.

Tip, if you tighten one side of the t-stat housing before the other is even close you can snap off the ears on the housing, it is cast aluminum.
It is not a hard job, messy, but not hard.
And obviously do this when the engine is cold.

 

THANKS doing this on saturday.............BTW, I got my bluetooth obd2 adapter in the mail today and have been tracking coolant temp... so far I have taken two around town drives never exceeding 50mph both 15~ minutes give or take and temp topped out at 192 F.

 

Replace the t-stat and go from there, then keep track of your temps.
What temp t-stat did you buy?
Is your heat still not working?

 

I have not bought tstat yet... Beck/Arnley Thermostat Part No: 143-0730... I mean this is the one I had looked at... heat doesn't work.. last night I checked the heater hoses after about a thirty minute drive and they were hot. don't know if this is just heat from the engine or not though. Still haven't replaced my expansion tank, doing that this weekend as well.. I have one of the leaky black ones

 

This weekends list of **** to do
fuel filter
drain and fill coolant
replace tstat
replace expansion tank
clean TB
any Ideas suggestions or recommended tools?