there was definately a difference of more than 10 degrees when I felt with my hand. Calling around tomorrow to see what rodding will cost - don't want to have to shell out $235 if I don't have to.

I'm planning on pulling out the fan and pump as one unit. Is there any wisdom as to why a person wouldn't want to do that? I heard that clutch nut can be a nasty one.

 

Here's a pic of that wheel ball joint

 

See that orange crap, I would pull the. Hub and stub axle make sure there is not water in there, looks like rust/water/grease

There is a aluminum rad. In the 4 sale for 100 they work great

Fan clutch is easy just need the tool


Need to do a good degrease job to see where you currently have leaks

 

Yes. I was going to mention the radiator in the 4 sale. I agree with tom fan clutch is easy. Buy the tool.

 

I use a large adjustable wrench which fits perfect, then give it a good whack with a rubber mallet.

 

You were right - there's a big crack in the small tube next to the large filler tube. I'm not sure I will be trying to take that off - this beast has so much rust underneath that parts of it crumble and fall off every time I shut one of the doors. I'd have nothing left to screw the fastener back into if I took it out. Looks like someone pulled this thing up from the bottom of the ocean. I guess that's Minnesota road salt doing what it does best...

Anyway, I think I will try to take a slightly larger pice of hose and put it around that crack and maybe put some silicone glue and hose clamps around it all and see if it will at least not leak anymore. Kinda embarassing at the pump when you are standing there pumping gas while a stream of gas is trickling onto the ground from under the truck...

 

Tom, I bought that aluminum radiator in the classifieds. Replaced my water pump with a new one, replaced my fan clutch with a new one, and replaced the tensioner bearing over the weekend. I was going to take a look at the thermostat and when I opened up the elbow, there was no thermostat in there. PO must have yanked it thinking it would help cool the engine down or something.

After replacing those parts, I went from having to have the heater on full blast any time I wanted to drive anywhere, to not being able to get hotter than 1/3rd of the gauge.

I will be putting in a thermostat within the next couple days but you are right - that aluminum radiator is the bomb!

Thanks for the insight!

And I no longer have any squeaking going on under the hood - the thing sounds like a brand new car!

Below pictures:

Red strap tool I had gotten a while ago from Menards made removing the fan clutch a super easy process. I actually had a 36mm wrench to go on the fan clutch nut but a large crescent wrench would have also done nicely. Rubber mallot to the wrench while holding the strap tool and no problem.

Tensioner pulley had some kind of gunk stuck to it - cleaned that all up when I had it off to replace the bearing. Getting the little circlip out (holding the bearing in) took a little work to do - was able to get it out with just a screwdriver. Pounded the old bearing out from the back using a large socket and rubber mallot. Pressed the new one back in by setting the old bearing on top of the new bearing and tapping it in with rubber mallot.

Radiator - wow, what can I say...other than - "No wonder this thing wasn't cooling the engine sufficiently." Check out all of the missing fins. Wondering where they went? Check out the next picture - all those little assorted pieces on the frame are the missing fins - next picture is after I shop-vac'd them all up.

P