I have suffered all the same Symptoms you describe TT. The following recitified the heating issue, plus got rid of that damn water trickle noise in the dash. For the record, I have a 96 V8 duel fuel.
1. Had the radiator gas test - OK
2. Had the system pressure tested - No leaks but radiator over 60% blocked
3. Had the radioator removed and rebuilt
This sorted the cooling issue, and for the first time I could also get the Roar of the fan pulling air through. Not sure if it wasn't working or if just no air was comming through, but it's all good now. Perhaps it was to do with the Serpentine belt being incorrectly fitted, I don't know.
But, it didn't get rid of the water trickle problem much to my disappointment. That was fixed when I loaded up the truck and took it on a very hot day up very very long hills (bitumen). One of the heater core hoses blew (the ones over the drivers side rocker cover) and emptied all the water out. I put a new hose on and filled it just as Mike 90 RR has described (sans the top bung) and now I have no heating/cooling issues, or water noise in the dash................or had........
Took it to get it serviced at a previously reputable establishment, asked them to check everything was kosher with the cooling system (was running on water alone), they send it back with water trickle noise and over pressurised (too much water, didn't bleed it porper like) with fluid pooring out the resevior cap. This was after driving it 20kms from their service centre in North Melbourne to the ALLGAS guys (Highly recommended for servicing.....it's a long story but by god they are good and actually give a toss) in Tullamarine.
So I took it back, told them not to let the apprentice work on it, take the time to do the job properly, and whilst they are at it, replace the front break master cylinder that now seems to be ****ing break fluid, actually replace the fluid instead of simply charging me for it and not actually doing it, and put the distributer cap on properly (only secured on one side).
Anyway, the idea is, check out the simple things first before automatically assuming a head gasket, and when filling it, have patience and do it right.
Good luck.


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