Hello everyone, I was told a few different times to check in here to meet the cool kids

lol.
Just picked up a mostly original '91 w/187k miles with ugly original paint from the second owner! I have a post in the main 80 forum if you wanna see more pictures and details "I just impulse bought an LC 80... and I'm already regretting it", but the gist is that I'm in CA and it wont pass smog because of a CEL, and has a few other big issues including front axle seals and water pump . Codes are 25, 26, & 28 so I got new denso 02 sensors that are about to go in.
Biggest issue at the moment is the
water pump and cooling system.... the water pump went the moment I got home (PO says he's never seen it leak a drop lol). The clamps and hoses were so corroded I needed to cut a few of them off, and it was a nightmare getting the pump out, so now I'm waiting on replacement hoses and parts... I've searched and most everyone says go OEM, so I'm ordering the hose kit from
Wit's End for the main 3,
but for the smaller ones, do people just get hose stock and cut their own?
That's ok thought, because I have to deal with all the corrosion in the coolant system. The radiator is newer, all metal, doesn't have a drain petcock, and is unlabeled.... @
91FJ80Super44 it looks exactly like the one you just installed (O'Reily? $500?), I'll post a photo below. I literally dumped piles of mineral deposits and rust from the cooling system, and there was not an ounce of coolant in it, just tap water (Ugh!). I hate to toss a new radiator, so hopefully I get get all the rust out.... we'll see. Might just remove it so I can gravity back flush it, since I don't have access to a pressure flush. BTW, thanks
@e9999 for the amazing write up, it really helped me understand what I need to do. Question though....
since the w/p is out do I just connect a garden hose to the thermostat bypass hose and disconnect the block drain to flush the block?? And since there's no w/p to build pressure for the front of the block, can I also just stick the hose in the w/p cutout?
Also, is an OEM thermostat recommended?
This is the metal connector between the lower radiator and water pump inlet hoses... I'm afraid of where all of this crap has imbedded itself along the way