Heater Core

[seatlyte]

Well now that I fixed my Fuel Injection my heater core blew. being an '84 Mk VII with a 5.0 am I going to be able to do this myself? The dealership and Walts both want about 500 bucks saying that they have to pull the dash. My crummy 3rd party manual says I can do it through the glove box. I'd rather do it myself....can I?

[pro-five-oh]

Yes you can, but it ain't gonna be easy! I haven't tackled a heater core, and it isn't for the faint of heart. Heater cores in Mustangs can be replaced thru the glove box, one guy here in Houston has done it 3 times and got the hang of it.

[Lscman]

The dash must come off and dropped back onto the front seat, unless you take a chain saw to the heater plenum assy thru the glovebox. The only fox Mustangs that allow removal of heater cores thru the glovebox opening are rare one's with no A/C. There is an access door on those cars. You will need a nice descriptive OEM manual to identify all the dash and console trim and pieces and how they dissassemble. Guessing can result in lots of broken, obsolete plastic parts, if that matters. Removal is not obvious to the naked eye. Good luck..

[pro-five-oh]

D'oh! I stand corrected.

[stinkin' Lincoln]

this was one of the first "major" things I did on my first Mark VII...

it's really not that bad...

you need to unbolt the steering column and let it hang... unbolt the dash at the sides and along the top and pull it back... you don't need to disconnect everything, just get it back out of the way...

then, unbolt the visible bolts (two?) on the lid where the heater core is... then take a dremel or other high speed tool and cut along the top of the box to make the lid a little "flap". then cut away the lip at the bottom of the opening that's preventing the core from sliding out...

slide it out...

slide the new one in...

then, I always take a CD case and cut a "patch" for the section of the lip that I cut away... seal everything up w/ RTV and put everything back together...

the inside of the car will smell of amonia till the RTV cures, but then it'll be gone...

it took me an entire Saturday to do it the first time... I can knock out a heater core in about 3-4 hrs now depending on the car.

Forrest

[seatlyte]

Thanks Stinky, I went to a local junkyard and had a good look over a junked '84 and you are right on the money. I bypassed the heater for now so that I may do this when time allows for "accidents' that may prevent me from getting it done in time to get to work. Another 'shame on you FoMoCo' for making repairs so ridiculously difficult...I miss my '63 Ranchero oh so much.

[Lscman]

A heater core replacement is difficult on most cars built since the 60's. This is due to the integration of A/C into the dash instead of massive plenum boxes and gaudy add-on A/C vent gizmos hanging below, like on a 60's Ford. The complex heater core job on a modern car is not unique to Ford. Most owners would rather have good styling with A/C and spend an extra 5 hours replacing the heater core every 10 years.