I feel sick right now. Finally got all the electrical figured out and squared away, installed a new electric fan today on the cleveland. Fired it up to test the fan, let it idle for a few minutes, white smoke started pouring from the exhaust, then something let go because coolant started gushing from under the motor. Fan never did come on... Funny I just put in a new radiator, new hoses, coolant, water pump, and everything that came out looked like rust. I knew this thing was neglected but jesus. I'm so upset right now I can't see straight

 

Sorry to hear. Take a few days away from the truck. Collect your thoughts and fix it. Just a minor setback.

 

Well I don't know about "minor" setback hahaha

 

One time I forgot to install a rear main seal in an engine. I found it out 4 months later when I fired it up for the first time after the rebuild. By my definition "minor" is when you still have the truck and engine to be able to fix. "Major" is when the truck burns to ground because someone didn't wire it correctly. It is a setback, no doubt. I feel for ya..

 

Where was it coming out of?

 

I couldn't really tell where it was coming out, but it was draining in the back near where it meets the transmission...

 

Probably a freeze plug that rusted out, not the end of the world. But if the cooling system is that rusty, best to thoroughly flush it out.

 

Yup, freeze plug. Flushing it out may have caused it to start leaking. All of the crud in there was probably sealing up the problem area. just a theory....

Take a break then determine where it's leaking. We'll help if we can....

 

To me it sounds like you blew a head gasket and that caused one of the frost plugs to push out.

It sucks it happened. But it isn't a huge problem unless you cracked a head or the block. Much better then kicking a rod out the side of the block!

 

I hope thats "all" it is... I know crap about this stuff I'm just learning as I go. It just sucks one step forward, two steps back. Oh well, plenty to keep me busy this winter ;-)

 

Just stick with it and don't get discouraged.

And don't feel too bad about the one step forward two steps back. You are not along with that deal. That could be the title to my life's story!!

 

Thanks for the encouragement. I guess tomorrow after work I'll crawl under there and survey the damage and see what I can find...

 

I'm gonna have nightmares for weeks after reading this.

I'm really hoping that its something fairly simple.

 

Blowing freeze plugs on these things is relatively common, antifreezes weren't all that good at preventing rust way back when. Hope that's what it is, it's a pretty easy inexpensive fix. If it turns out that's what it is, replace all of them rather than just one.

 

The best thing to do is walk away, take a break. Check it out tomorrow and fix it.
Think of it this way:
Every time something breaks it is a new learning opportunity...