Heater Core

[140cilx]

well, asked around and was told the Heater core on our a/c equipped SVO's is the same nightmare as the later '87 up foxes. I've replaced my '88 heater core before and it was NOT fun.

I ran a search, found twenty something threads w/ heater core in it, but none with instructions for replacing.

Wondering, anybody got any tips, experience or specific info to our dashes that might help me out?

I thank you.

-140

[NY eric]

tips

remove the seats and console first. Get a double jointed woman and have at it. actually it is not hard just time consuming . I had it down to about 6hrs. I have since cut my box and made a cover so I can just open the glove box and pull her out.

good luck

[SVOJEFF]

Heater Core replacement!

Well,
The most time consuming thing yet! Pull the whole dash after you remove the seats and console! Take your time and clean everything and re-install it it wll be good and better than new! But only use the Ford Motorcraft replacement. The cheap aftermarket ones are thin and will crack at the tubes! Hope you have a whole weekend planed or just do it over a period of time and won't be so bad! Good luck dude. Jeff been there don that.

[vrinner]

One thing leads to another...

1. So on my track car I decide to put a FMIC in.
2. Current Aluminum radiator is too big...gotta buy new radiator.
3. Battery wont fit in stock location...must move to rear of car.
4. While I'm at it I decide to clean up the wiring.
I realize the harness for the lights goes through the firewall.
5. While I'm at it I might as well remove whats left of the heater and A/C stuff under the dash.
6. First must remove dash pad...ever tried to do this with a 6 point roll cage? Cant be done.
7. Decide this is a race car, break out the Sawz All (sp?)...dash pad out in 20 seconds.
8. Now to remove the console...ever tried to do this with a 6 point roll cage? Cant be done.
9. Decide this is a race car, BUT I really dont want to hack up the console. So I ended up just forcing all the heater and A/C stuff out from under the glove box while leaving about 1/2 lbs of knuckle flesh under the console!
10. Now I have a couple of really big holes in the firewall that I need to weld up, new radiator brackets to make, wireing harness to figure out, make a custom aluminum dash, oh yeah, get a new overflow bottle for the radiator and mount where the battery was.

What a pain the the a**, but boy am I having fun!

[Pat_in_L.A.]

"Now I have a couple of really big holes in the firewall that I need to weld up, new radiator brackets to make, wireing harness to figure out, make a custom aluminum dash, oh yeah, get a new overflow bottle for the radiator and mount where the battery was."

Vince, forget the aluminum. I've made some very nice dash replacements on roll cage applications out of ABS. It's easy to work with, readily available, and cheap. You really don't want that shiny aluminum reflecting the sun in your eyes, do you?

[vrinner]

Where would I get ABS?

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Any plastics supply house has it.
GE will send you a free sample:

http://www.gepolymershapes.com/pshapes/geps/industry/product.jsp?gradeCLID=451

[NY eric]

Re: One thing leads to another...

Originally posted by vrinner
9. while leaving about 1/2 lbs of knuckle flesh under the console!
What a pain the the a**, but boy am I having fun!

Wouldnt be a ford weekend unless someone ends up bloody.

[Stinger]

Re: tips

Originally posted by NY eric
I have since cut my box and made a cover so I can just open the glove box and pull her out.

Don't you still have to loosen the dash up and pull it back a bit to get it out after you cut the hole? That's what I've always thought.

Does ANYONE have pictures of the hole they cut. It seems everyone that did it forgot to take pics

Stinger

[NY eric]

No picts

But in a few weeks when the wife allows me to work on the car again I will snap some.

No I can pull the core right out. unfortunatly if I have a leak It will flood the car now.

[SVOeric]

unfortunatly if I have a leak It will flood the car now.

umm -- there should still be a drain in the bottom of the box that runs out at the firewall.

maybe next time you pull it out, you should make sure it still works.

[NY eric]

well

I cut the hole a little too big to get the core out and the lip that would direct the water to the drain hole is now non existant. If I had another heater box I will do it different next time. OH well life is full of would have and could haves.

[SVOeric]

that's called

shouldawouldacoulda

[Stinger]

Re: No picts

Originally posted by NY eric
But in a few weeks when the wife allows me to work on the car again I will snap some.

Do you have an A/C car? Pics would be great either way

[NY eric]

AC well

Once I am done raiping Xanathr's car for parts I will have AC once again. I am tired of sweating my balls off in a black SVO. 2/80 air gets old fast.