After numerous flushes, I have only seen clear water coming out the last two water flushes. Clean water in it now and will drive tomorrow and check again. If it is still clear tomorrow, I will replace tstat and refill with coolant.

Since the 100 degree heat appears to jack with the adhesive on Velcro and allows my A Pillar Pod to drop down, and threat of rain prevented me form spraying bed liner, I decided to tinker with this problem while flushing coolant system.

I found some license plate hardware in a box where I keep surplus small parts. One set has a plastic cap to cover screws with a plastic base that it snaps onto. The only problem – they are white…or were….Nothing a little airbrush work can’t fix…













I hope this solves the problem. Due to brittleness of original plastic pillar cover, I drilled a very small hole to begin, then larger hold. Drilled small hole into sheet metal behind for screw to grip into.

 

Looks good. If the screws got a good grip in the a-pillar metal, I think that will work just fine.

 

Drivin garound town for two days now, and with the rough roads we have here...still secure. Liking it!

So I pulled radiator cap off this evening to peek inside:



Combustion gas analyzer came in today - perfect timing!



AND, testing radiator with tester, engine running, vacuum line draws air (note bubbles) from radiator into test chamber. If it reamins blue, all is good. If it turns yellow, it is rebuild time!





So, there is no combustion gasses present. Brown crud must have been left over from previous flush, without adequate rinsing from system.

Time to drain system and refill with water and coolant.


EDIT:

Just got through filling and burping the baby. No leaks, no overheating. I think I can call this good and move on to other things on my Ram. WIll check radiator again about the weekend and make sure is still looks good! Scattered pop up storms areound the area again today, so I was afraid to tackle the bed liner....

 

Youve done alot of good work to your truck!

 

Thanks. More to do though.....I probably would have just rattle can the paint a little and pay someone to fix tranny ....except I stumbled upon DF instead.....

But I like a good project. Need to get finsihed though, too many others waiting in line behind the garage. I did so a little upholstery practice lst night, including french seams and some other things.......almost can't wait to rip the seats out of the 54!

 

Ya man, i feel ya on that one, so much already done, but so much to do still!