Thank you so much for the quick response., and of course I'll replace the gasket. I may try to stretch things but I learned in shop class years ago that no matter how new a gasket is, replace it.
I try to maintain the truck the best I can. I've just been falling behind on bills lately so keep up on the poor thing has sadly been slowed down

Luckily I had to replace a bunch of hoses on my brothers car, so I should have extras laying around the garage.
I'm going to hold off on the thermostat though. I got to replace the rad soon. I'll replace it once all that is apart. I had enough troubles with the stat on my Jeep.... I really don't need more headaches. thanks again, I cant wait to not ride the bus the anymore.
Oh wait, the bypass hose.... The big 4 1/2" hose or the long 3/4" hose? The 4 1/2" hose was replaced right before I bought the truck... the spring already poked through the old one.

 

It's a short little dude hidden under the engine accessory bracket. It's forward of the thermostat housing and offset just a pinch toward the driver's side, runs from the intake manifold to the water pump. They usually fail when you try to remove them, and if they don't fail then they fail shortly afterward.

 

I may have been thinking of the wrong hose. I'll buy a foot or so of 4 1/2" hose just in case. Thanks again for your help. It's greatly appreciated.

 

It's not a 4.5" diameter hose! I don't have one lying around to look at, but it's about the diameter of heater hose.

You're welcome!

 

So once I got the pump off, I figured out I was talking about the wrong hose. I searched rockauto and they came up with the bypass as 4.5"

Got the water pump replaced, got the by pass hose replaced and a new belt. Once I got all that on, the rad sprung numerous leaks. I got it fixed well enough to get it home again. I was looking at OEM rads.... I think I'll upgrade. All the aluminum is rotted in my rad. I think it'd be best to upgrade to a copper rad with an electric fan.
Thanks again for your help. Saved me about 400 bucks by not going to the garage.