Heater Core discussion

[Guffinator]

I was going to attempt this a while back but put it off. Now that I'm wanting to put the AC back on the car I am going to replace the bad heater core first.

I found this article:

http://pweb.netcom.com/~skent/mustang/1990/heater_core/hcore.html

Which discusses placing a restrictor in the heater line in order to make the core last longer. Any thoughts on this?

[Thoroughbred]

I did my heater core about 2 years ago and its a pita is you have never taken a dash out before. I have have had zero problems since I replaced my heater core.

If I remember right, your original core should have a reducer/restrictor in it and just reuse that one. Thats what I did. I've been told that its there to change the pressure in the line. Which sounds logical to me. Its takes just a few second to slide her in place.

[Guffinator]

Ok, the dash is mostly out...or at least drooping. I have the HVAC box undone and it's drooping as well, with the top of the box propped open I can now see the heater core, so what's the trick to getting it out? I can't see any way that it would be held in other then the tubes going through the gasket, although I can't see much at all.

[Timebomb]

There are a couple of bolts that are on the firewall that hold the HVAC box in that you wouldn't think hold the box in. Be sure that you have those out and then double check everything...there is usually a hiden screw that will hang you up.

[rxracer]

Brent's correct, but he didnt mention the nuts on the firewall are in the engine bay.

[Timebomb]

Brent's correct, but he didnt mention the nuts on the firewall are in the engine bay.

You need to go back to school and take another class in reading comprehension...look at the first statement in my post.

[Blue91]

There is one bolt under the box also, which goes from INSIDE the car towards the front of the car. I believe the head is a 10mm.

As far as the actual core, nothing holds it in the box. Just remove the foam and pull it out. It might be goo'd in and kinda stuck.

Make sure you clean the inside of the box before you install the new one and seal the lid back on well so it doesn't leak.

[trbstang]

LOL Brent! The heater core is a PITA, I've done it twice and need to do it again. Since my AC was hooked up I just cut the box and removed the cores, sealing them with sealant and duct tape. I used the Autozone cheap ones, and they only lasted about 2 years or so. Since the last one, I've read about cleaning out all the black tar sealant in the HVAC box also since when it hardens, it can cause the fins on the new core to deform and possibly weaken the new core causing it to fail.

[Guffinator]

The HVAC box is loose, it's dropped down and I have the lid off, I'm just trying to get the core itself out of the box.

[rxracer]

You need to go back to school and take another class in reading comprehension...look at the first statement in my post.
and there are two sides of a firewall, dick. :D

[63T-Bolt]

Also be sure to go buy a factory FORD unit, not some replacement from oreilly or vatozone or napa. The factory core is 10000x better than the other junk, I learned this the hard way and put in 3 oreilly cores before i put a stock ford core in.


As far as the restrictor, my car never had one, nor did I put one in it.