Thanks for the kind words. Those links are a good resource - I think I already had some of those manuals, but maybe not all of them.

I think I finally found a solution to the lower hose problem I've been wrestling with. The lower inlet at the engine is larger than the 86 diesel radiator lower outlet, which made finding a hose a real pain. I finally had the radiator lower neck replaced with one that matches the engine's water neck, and I found a molded hose that fits when cut down a bit. This was a serious pain and angered many parts counter guys.

My p/s pressure hose and a pile of a/c parts arrived in the mail this week, so i think I can make some good progress this weekend.