@ hodges...i opted to do the heater treater and didnt want to do it at first because was not a fan of cutting into my truck howevver was not all worked up about it...the issue with it is that i essentially may have cut into my dash for no reason because if i have to replace the heater core i have to pull the dash anyway...but it is what it is...some people just arent comfortable doing things sometimes and for people like myself when it is your only vehicle that makes things a little stressful

 

Ok, I can say flushing the heater core was not easy but not all that hard either. I can say that a 5/8th inside diameter hose is too loose for the metal tubes on the heater core or what I believe is either the oil cooler or a/c condenser underneath the battery, one size smaller should work better for a snug fit. I had a size or so smaller and had to stretch the tubing to fit to the metal spouts where "Not So" quick disconnects attach.

NOTE: Before you start this project order a pack of Teflon washers and Rubber O-Rings, that sit under the Quick Disconnects. I went to 2 different parts stores and had no luck but found the ones I dropped on the ground, by some small ray of luck. Autozone carries both in 10/20pks for about $10 or less each but they're a 3-5day ship, not sure if that's ground time or the time they actually get them shipped. If you lose the Teflon Washer, YOU ARE SOL!! Without them you will just spew Antifreeze everywhere.

I hooked up a vinyl tube to the heater core outlet at the firewall, and disconnected the inlet hose from the engine and either the Oil Cooler or Condenser which ever it is, and ran 2 hoses off each end since the factory hoses are already T'd. Ran water thru the heater core and out the bottom of the T for about 10 minutes, killed the water, and then crimped that vinyl tube, and let it flow out the direction of the T for 10 minutes. I didn't get huge amounts of crap out, but it was noticeable. Some rust and what looked like, best described as "white bread crumbs". The most noticeable aspect was there was no green coolant that came out of the heater core at all, the water was only slightly murky for the first few minutes, then gradually got clear, once it was clear is when I killed the water.

I shot myself in the foot with this since I needed to get this done before Xmas, I did this in 40 degree weather and 2nite finished up while it was colder and raining. With all the reconnect and disconnecting I did, I now have air in the system, again, I left the water in the heater core and didn't use compressed air as some recommend. I lost rear heat, but my front heat is back. Hopefully I can flush the rear heater core either via the in/out tubes from the rear of the truck, and/or from the lines coming from the Cooler/Condenser, still not sure what exactly that is, under the battery.

One thing I did notice ever since I did the system flush a week or so ago and the heater core flush yesterday. The top rad hose that runs from the top left of the rad to the front of the engine that holds the thermostat, does not fill up with anything but air, for quite a while, won't get hot till after it's been driven for a few miles. And most steps to burp the system are at best, vague. Everyone has a different method. Any and all ideas there would be helpful.

Sorry I couldn't get pics, but I was covered in antifreeze and freezing my **** off, so they were the farthest thing from my mind.

 

thats ok thank you for all of your help and information! i have a feeling that getting heat in this truck is going to become a never ending project (i may get i by spring...lol). Thank you for all of your help guess i will try the flush and see if it helps(fingers crossed).