Quick auto help needed

[cdcox]

I've been having problems with the cooling system on my '94 Ford F-150 straight 6.

A couple years ago I replaced everthing from the hoses, to the thermostat, to the pump. Did okay for a couple of years.

This fall I noticed the heater wasn't working, so I flushed the system, and replaced the thermostat. Within a week the heater quick working again. A couple weeks later I noticed the truck was running hot. So basically, I've been babying it ever since, only short trips to work and back and avoiding stop and go traffic.

The weather and the schedule finally co-operated so that I could look at it again today. I determined that the radiator is clogged in addition to the heater core. There are rusty deposits in the hoses.

My plan:

1. flush well with water.

2. replace the radiator.

3. replace the heater core later. (It is a royal pain to get to).

I'm concerned about clogging the new radiator. My questions are:

1. should I flush with something more agressive?

2. Do I need to replace the old hoses?

3. Is it okay to wait on the heater core? I could short circuit the heater system to isoate it from the rest of the cooling circuit.

4. Is my rust problem so bad that I'll never be able to recover from it?

5. Any other advice?