Heat issue...99 Crown Vic

[rusty ol ranger]

So...i just bought this thing to DD for 1100 bucks because my B2 is proving to be more project then DD...

Runs good, drives good, 225k miles...

Anyways...ive got a strange heating issue. It seems to take a while for the heater to actually get warm...even though the engine gets to temp normally. However...once it gets warm its not THAT warm and slowly gets less warm the longer you drive. HOWEVER...if you shut the HVAC totally off for a bit, turn it on, it blows hot for a few minutes then slowly cools off.

I thought maybe the core was plugged...but both hoses are same temp. But i noticed the cooling system is not making pressure...at all. I cant see or smell coolant anywhere (athough i thought i got a whiff around the resivor). Its also not going in the oil or out the tailpipe.

I know the kid i bought it from put a radiator in it...when i fired it up this morning it kinda gargled from the heater core area.

Would air in the system cause this? Possible radiator cap bad? Any ideas??

 

[2011Supercab]

Either a plugged heater core or a big air bubble in the heater core are my guesses.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Either a plugged heater core or a big air bubble in the heater core are my guesses.

I may have a lead....

I plugged in my scanner and it said the engine was at 172 despite the gauge showing half...where its at going down the road.

OE temp is 195....i see 170 as an alternate temp...i think i even seen 160. Wondering if someone stuck one of those in