Fresh mill. Bad happenings? What to check for?

triumphman said
I will go out on a limb here: You stated a 5.9. Is it a Magnum or an LA?
The water pumps rotate in opposite directions. Be sure you have the pump for "that" motor.

Good thinking. If it has the serpentine setup it will be reverse, if you're running v-belts the LA water pump will work.