yep. over heating, water disappeared...add water...drive an hour later repeat the process...

Gonna pressure test the radiator and drain the oil for clues .....just to be sure.
Got about 159K out of it.

 

3.4 is definately the way to go.

 

Yeah thats what I plan to do when my 3.0 dies. Already did the head gasket on it about 3000 miles ago and told myself that was the last major thing I would do to fix the motor. Its been through 275k miles so I think its been in there long enough

 

ya do the swap i just spent 34 hours in the shop this weekend doing hg's in my motor, and if your truck is lifted like mine if you do replace them pull the motor and put it on a stand it will go so mush faster

 

The 3.4 swap is the way to go, it takes a lot of thinking and research when it comes to the wiring, but everything else is pretty much straight forward. There is tons on info on here about it and plenty of people to help out with answers to question. Good luck.

 

I've been looking here and there for a while now. I got a price for 1500 including the accessories ( alternator, ps, ac ) 90K. I'll have to ask about the timing belt. The motor comes with wiring harness and computer. It's out of an automatic though.
Just for my peace of mind with my other half, I do have to verify that it is indeed the hg by draining the oil and pressure test the radiator. The truck was running like it's missing a cylinder with oil pressure below normal at idle. So the signs are there but....