Running with no coolant...possible?

hey guys, just bought a 91' B2200 with a B2600 motor in it. I noticed that there was no coolant in the radiator or reservoir, and only a bunch of orange gunk left over in there. The previous owner said hes been running it like that for 2-3 years and should be fine without it. The temperature sensor rises from cold to normal temperature and hasnt been going above normal on the gauge, so Im assuming its not overheating, but the thermostat could be broken...probably eh?

Do you think I should add coolant?
I think I should, but how do i flush all that orange gunk out, just run water through it?
Any tips/suggestions?

Thanks

For sure I'd drain the coolant, and check that out. You do not appear to have a thermostat issue. Was orange coolant used, or is that color rust? If rust, I'd flush the system with chemical cleaner, then flush ALL that out with water, then add new coolant, and bleed out all the air. Yes, there should be some coolant in the overflow reservoir.

Ya' sure that it really has a B2600 engine? That's not a direct swap-over, like the transmission would also need to be swapped over, from what I understand.

Post pictures of the engine compartment..

OK yea actually its a B2000. but i think the motor is b2600.

cusser is right ! Not a direct swap! Tranny had to be changed! Comp n wire harness! Not to mention welding n the correct motor mounts! I learned the hard way ! But it can be done! Please post pics of engine ! This may help!

i posted the pics.. can you not see them?

If they are posted from your albums on bscene you'll need to set permissions to public. All I see are the blue ? Broken link imgs...

Yea that's all I c Leland!

ok, made it public.. check now..

Ok got pics ! 4wd fenders bed and wheels! And bubble hood!:) definitely 2600 motor! Appears to be 4wd truck ! which means its a b2600 not a b2000 0r b2200 what does Fender emblem say?

The fender says B2000. no other markings anywhere and the Vin number is shaved off and given a new one by the DMV. So my guess is that it was a B2000 truck that got a B2600 swap. Do the b2600 and b2000 have interchangeable body parts? i need a new tailgate

So now.. what do you suggest with the coolant situation?

Also any place i can get parts for this car? it sems like they are hard to find, especially at the junk yards