Just bought a 97 Chevy 1500 truck - WHoooohoooo

The last owner put in some sort of metallic stop leak additive which has caused water pump and radiator failure.

I took out the water pump and realized that the radiator gunk is still in the engine, the heater core and hoses.

To get all the gunk out of the system - What is the suggested sequence of work?

Option 1 - Should I re-install the old water pump and then flush the engine and radiator?
Option 2 - Should I install the new pump and new radiator and then flush the system. (but I would have introduced gunk into the new system, in unknown quantities)
Option 3 - What other options I may have?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance

 

i would go option 1. I would install a flushing tee and run a garden hose into it to flush out the system.

 

Tech2; Thank you. That worked well.

Update:

The truck is "drinking" coolant, with high vapor exhaust coming out - Seems like the problem is a blown head gasket.... about $1500 to fix.

How do I determine if the $1,500 is money well spent - should it be fixed? I like the truck, it has 160,000 mile on it and KBB private seller in fair condition price at $2,300. But it is an old truck and unsure what the next thing will fail.......

 

hard to say without seeing the truck and knowing its overall condition, ie. rust free body, how much you have into it and what it can be sold for?