Heater core!!!

[gbeaird]

Well, dammit, looks like I did NOT avoid the dreaded leaking heater core issue so many have enjoyed here and posted about over the years. Noticed there was some coolant under the SVO a while back, and figured that came from when I was installing all the new coolant lines and hoses. Started and ran the car a few days ago, and today decided to go out and see if I can start unbolting the leaking rack to get a jump on that job. I also wanted to see how much I could do by myself since my shoulder joint surgery in January (I got the tie rods loose and the rack to crossmember nuts loose).

When I started working on the passenger side of the car, I noticed fresh coolant on the floor. Hmmm. Started looking around and finally discovered the evaporator drain tube was wet with...... coolant. FML!!! So, looks like I have that project to add to my stack of other projects, which should keep me busy well into the next millennium!

Anyway, just wanted to come here to see if there are any preferred heater core brands or sources, or if there are any to actively avoid? I suspect that ALL 1986 Mustang with A/C heater cores will work? I have the FSM, and found the link to the FEP articles regarding the steps involved to R&R the core, but want to get the correct core first. I'm willing to pay for NOS, if anyone knows of any available IFF those are any better. If that won't make any difference, I'm fine with that, too. Luckily, the hoses are fresh, so shouldn't be a big problem.

Thanks for any info.

[MIKESVO]

Just make sure you get a brass one. They are getting harder to find, but that's the way to go. I've heard multiple problems with the aluminum ones being offered through the parts stores.
A/C and non A/C cores are different too.

[scenario]

My first car, 1981 Mercury Capri was my initiation of the dreaded FoxBody heater core world...I was prob 18 or 19 yrs old when I had to do it. A job I will never forget...LOL

All kidding aside, I think the job is not all that horrible especially with all the tutorials with pictures and YouTube etc...

[Erics SVO]

My 84 Capri in HS had the core take a dump. We cut the box along the firewall with a utility knife and taped it back up with HVAC tape. LOL

[gbeaird]

Just make sure you get a brass one. They are getting harder to find, but that's the way to go. I've heard multiple problems with the aluminum ones being offered through the parts stores.
A/C and non A/C cores are different too.

Easier said than done! I've found several postings that use the OEM picture of the brass core, but when you go into the description, they mention 'aluminum'. :-(

Looking like NOS brass ones are NLA. Aluminum many be my only choice.

[svono50]

Gene, I think you may be correct on the aluminum vs brass. I tried to guide a local Fox owner to a brass one last fall and he couldn't locate one out on the general market, so went with an aluminum one. You may want to ping Paul and see if he has a source for a brass one. I also remember there was a reinforcement brace folks would braze/solder in place between the two inlet/outlet tubes to help support the one tube that is offset. I am sure something is out there showing that...to consider as well.

As far as I know, all A/C Foxes used the same heater core. I know my 86 used the same core as my wife's former 86 5.0L GT, as I replaced both of those just months apart many moons ago (knocking on wood). Good luck and let us know what you find.

[gbeaird]

Gene, I think you may be correct on the aluminum vs brass. I tried to guide a local Fox owner to a brass one last fall and he couldn't locate one out on the general market, so went with an aluminum one. You may want to ping Paul and see if he has a source for a brass one. I also remember there was a reinforcement brace folks would braze/solder in place between the two inlet/outlet tubes to help support the one tube that is offset. I am sure something is out there showing that...to consider as well.

As far as I know, all A/C Foxes used the same heater core. I know my 86 used the same core as my wife's former 86 5.0L GT, as I replaced both of those just months apart many moons ago (knocking on wood). Good luck and let us know what you find.

Thank you for the 'Paul' recommendation. I'll do that. For some silly reason, I think I got one a while back, but I'll be danged if I can find it if I did!! Anyway, I"ll ping Paul and see.

If that doesn't pan out, does anyone know if there are any better aluminum ones vs. others? I', kind of suspecting they're all made by the same manufacturer, but it can't hurt to check. It seems one I see has some sort of yellowish-orangish label on it, and another does not, if that matters.

[MIKESVO]

Maybe try a Carquest core? I've had pretty good luck with the Carquest brand parts. They are now owned by Advance but might be able to find some old stock.

[svono50]

My last cores were brass Balkamp/Napa, part number 660-3126 from my records.

[gbeaird]

My last cores were brass Balkamp/Napa, part number 660-3126 from my records.

Sadly, searching for that part number reveals a core listed as 'HEATER CORE-ALUMINUM'. At least the picture is accurate. :-(

Paul had nothing, and a reseller he recommended to try had nothing, as well as the reseller they recommended to try. I guess I'll just get one locally and do a deeper inventory search in the shop to see if I didn't, indeed, purchase an old core in the past and just misplaced it. Thanks, all!!

[MIKESVO]

Any chance the old core could be repaired?

[gbeaird]

Any chance the old core could be repaired?

I don't have the old core out yet, but have no idea. Not even sure where that could be done anymore. Most radiator shops are now actually 'radiator swap out for a new one' shop. Terribly few do recores or any other actual repairs on existing radiators these days.

[MIKESVO]

Yep, there is one shop a few towns over from me that is an old school radiator shop. They do a great job repairing/recoring radiators.

[gbeaird]

I found a truck radiator shop in downtown Houston many years ago and took my 1979 Seville radiator to them for a recore. They eventually talked me into an aluminum one, mostly because the trip back and forth was kind of annoying, and I wasn't as anxious to keep the car 100% stock. I'll try to locate those guys again and see if they are still in business (there was a lot of 'gentrification' going on, so I could see them being bought out so $1MM condos could be poured onto the lot). Otherwise, I'll try some other truck radiator shops I have queued up on my browser right now. I want to have the core in hand before I do that, though, as there's no telling how long it will take me to get the core out.

[gbeaird]

Okay, I was going to go over the R&R procedure today while I waited on parts. I seem to remember a posting somewhere, I believe was Four-eyed Pride forum that had a how-to that looked pretty complete. I've lost that link, and my searches on FEP have yielded nothing.

While I have found some other online postings, I was kind of wanting to use that one since it seemed pretty complete. Anyone have that link, or a good one they've used before for this task? Thanks.