ok heres the deal... ive had problems with overheating for a few weeks now. so i changed the fan motor which was dead, flushed the radiator, changed the coolant overflow tank which had a crack in it and changd the thermostat and changed the oil (mobil 1) and oil filter(k&n). then it just ran hot as opposed to overheating. yesterday...i was nearing the 260 mark really hot when i pulled over to get some gas. so i turned off the engine and i notice steam in the hood. the floor outside my car was drenched in coolant. (there was none left in the radiator.)it was steaming back by the windshield. did i blow a head, gasket, heater hose. what???? pleas help me
thanks in advance.
rick

 

ok i found a hose that had a hole in it and it was spewing out coolant. it was a hose that led into the back of the block. and connected to this black plastic thing it had a disc shaped top and cylinder shaped base (about size of normal screwdriver. what is this piece...i accidentally broke it while removing the hose.) the piece kinda looked like a large mushroom, if you can picture that. it connected 2 or 3 hoses together on the left side...if you are looking at it standing at the front bumper. please help

 

Does that piece have a vacuum line going to it? If it does, it could be the valve that shuts of the heater core. The valve closes when you put you A/C temp lever all the way in the cold position. I don't know what year they started putting them on the cars, my 86 doesnt have one but my 88 does. (must have been 87)