have you tried connecting a garden hose to one of the heater hoses... leave the overflow cap off and turn the hose on... should run water thru the block or thru the radiator.... if you have a TEE in the heater hose, pinch one side and run the water forward, then pinch the other side and run it backward... If no TEE, the connect the water to the hose and plug the fitting on the block... then run the hose the other way.. I bought a TEE at Auto Zone and cut in the middle of the hose and splice in............ sure sounds like a PLUG somewhere ?

 

i will try that when i get off work today

 

I don't see how the gauge can be in the red zone in 30 seconds. You would think with new pump and full of coolant, it would take several minutes to raise up ?? ....... I think I would take the thermostat OUT and leave it out for a test. Start with the overflow cap off and see if your getting excess exhaust gas out the top ? 30 seconds is DRASTIC.i replaced the radiator and its still doing the same thing accept now im seeing the bubbles from excess exhaust gas that steve(ill) was talking about could someone tell me what that mean please?

 

exhaust gas in the radiator normally means a blown head gasket.... your probably getting flue gas trapped at the top of the water jacket where the thermo sensor is located... no coolant in the area causes the gauge to spike... normally If you continue to run it will build up pressure and BURP out the overflow cap.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...lant-blow.html

 

i dont see any leaks everythings dry should i try checking the manifold before i use the bars leak or should i try the bars leak first? thanks in advance steve(ill) also im getting heat and i dont have a t stat in

 

if there is exhaust gas bubbles inside the radiator, then you have a problem with the head gasket between the cylinder and water port...... it may not leak EXTERNALLY... If you confirm that you have exhaust gas, then you should be pressurizing the cooling system and burping fluid out the fill cap... If ALL OF THAT IS TRUE, then the BARS LEAK is a possible solution ........... either that or your pulling the heads off.

If you have an internal manifold leak, you would be burning some coolant and slowly loosing level, but no bubbles should show up in the radiator.. Bubbles and PRESSURE in the radiator means exhaust gas from one cylinder ..... normally thru a failed head gasket.