There are just some days I wish I didn't turn wrenches

[OR VietVet]

So, I am replacing the water pump and thermostat on this truck. My friend has a vacuum fill kit, for the coolant, that he would lend me but I have no air compressor. He said that before he got that kit and there was no radiator cap on the radiator, he just would jack up the right front corner, where the reservoir is, and do a slow fill and had no air pocket problems and did not fill at the upper radiator hose. Anyone else ever done the coolant refill that way?

 

[iamdub]

So, I am replacing the water pump and thermostat on this truck. My friend has a vacuum fill kit, for the coolant, that he would lend me but I have no air compressor. He said that before he got that kit and there was no radiator cap on the radiator, he just would jack up the right front corner, where the reservoir is, and do a slow fill and had no air pocket problems and did not fill at the upper radiator hose. Anyone else ever done the coolant refill that way?

I've never jacked up the corner nor have I ever filled through the upper hose. Never a problem. Sure, the level in the surge tank would drop after the first heat cycle and I'd top it off. But it wouldn't go anywhere neat dry and I don't think I've ever had to top off more than twice. I pour the coolant in somewhat slowly and stop to squeeze the lower hose a few times.

 

[89Suburban]

squeeze the lower hose a few times.

ENTER: @randeez

TYF Top Reporter: "Randeez, do you have any comments sir? Do you think he was directing that comment to you or himself??"

 

[randeez]

ENTER: @randeez

TYF Top Reporter: "Randeez, do you have any comments sir? Do you think he was directing that comment to you or himself??"

I always find the leak when squeezing the lower hose

 

[OR VietVet]

Today: Removed old valve covers, cleaned seal surfaces, installed new valve covers, cleaned ignition coil racks and installed, installed all 8 spark plugs and installed all 8 spark plug wires and added dielectric grease, clamped off all radiator and heater hoses and compressed all clamps and removed hoses, removed belts, removed tensioners and idler, removed water pump, cleaned water pump mount surface and dried, installed new pump and seals, installed tensioners, idler pulley, installed both belts, hoses and squeeze clamps, reinstalled MAF and snorkel, released all hose clamps and refilled with 50/50 mix of DexCool. Now waiting on coils to get here Tuesday to install and start and finish filling coolant and monitor and road test and check for leaks. Installed new front wiper blades. Replaced purge valve.

 

[OR VietVet]

 

[OR VietVet]

 

[OR VietVet]

 

[MrMonte]

So, I am replacing the water pump and thermostat on this truck. My friend has a vacuum fill kit, for the coolant, that he would lend me but I have no air compressor. He said that before he got that kit and there was no radiator cap on the radiator, he just would jack up the right front corner, where the reservoir is, and do a slow fill and had no air pocket problems and did not fill at the upper radiator hose. Anyone else ever done the coolant refill that way?

When I added coolant after doing my AFM delete I removed the thermostat and added almost 2 gallons, installed thermostat then filled remaining thru reservoir and had no air pocket issues.

 

[OR VietVet]

He wanted me to put the new chrome DENALI letters on the p/s door. The chrome look on the old was peeling off. I taped it off, marked the letter edges, used a high powered hair dryer and heated the letters/adhesive, used a sharp plastic trim tool and scraped the letters off and then reheated what was left of the spongy adhesive stuff behind letters and got down to the actual glue. Used some stuff called GOOF OFF, IIRC, and used a few Q-tips and got all the adhesive off, washed with DAWN soap and rinsed with water and dried completely. Heated again. Wiped with clean cloth. Removed new letters, one by one, and attached on the straight line of tape. I think it came out looking pretty good.