Heater core

[theskytoucher]

I don't know if this was were this topic is suppossed to be posted but anyways.
Im going to replace the heater caore on my truck and i was wondering what all do i need to remove to do this. (i have a habit of taking to much stuff apart when i do little projects like this) Any help will be much appreciated. Thank you

[mrsnicks]

Step#1... drain the antifreeze from the system.

Step#2..disconnect the 2 lines that go into the core on the firewall. Have a bucket/pan under to collect some antifreeze.

Step#3... disconnect the heater box under the dash on the passenger side.

Step#4... the heater core comes out with the heater box. Remove the core from the box.

Someone may be able to give more detailed instructions but that's the basics... just unscrew what you have to, to get the box off... pretty straight forward.

Patrick

[jor]

There's a good drawing of the heater here at http://www.fordification.com/schematics03.htm
jor

[Whoaaanelly]

I just finished replacing mine in my 67. Pretty straight forward. I've found over the year it's not really necessary to drain the whole system. When you pull the heater hoses off, just tie them up high. You'll do OK if you're quick on the reinstallation and likely only loose a cup or two. I, like, you, go a bit overboard sometimes taking stuff apart, but this is what I did:

1) Removed the hoses and set them with their ends up about a foot above the engine block.

2) Removed the control cables from the box. Pay attention to which came from where by marking them.

3) Disconnected the wiring -- again marking them.

4) Removed the 3 (or 4?) nuts holding the unit in from the engine compartment side.

5) I removed the motor for cleaning and painting.

6) I removed all the screws and removed the cover housing the heater core. I sand-blasted this rusty thing and painted it with Rustoleum Satin Black (good stuff).

7) I drilled out all the rivets and removed the cover over the flappers. The foam rubber on these were shot and I wanted to restore the box, not just change the heater core. I then pulled the flappers out and sand blasted these and painted them as well. Once painted I applied thick felt sheets glued down with 3M spray adhesive. As you can see from the pic, these flappers were bad.

I then cleaned the entire box and lightly painted it to bring it back to factory sheen.

9) I had to patch the rubber intake boot in a couple spots after cleaning it with whitewall tire cleaner.

10) After all the parts were cleaned and painted I reassembled it all in reverse order. Looks (and likely works) like new now.

[Whoaaanelly]

I wondered why my 8th step was a emoticon... I guess if you type an 8 followed by a ) you get one of these automatically. Test... 8 )

Also, I forgot to mention that you can ignore half these steps if all you want to do is replace the heater core. Just get the the unit out and remove the screws holding the cover on. Slide out the old core (along with any debris) and slide the new one into its place. Put the cover back on and you're done.

Even though I'm not "restoring" this truck (at least I have to keep convincing myself of this fact), anything I do work on gets restored. Nasty habit of mine. So -- it'll probably -eventually- be restored.

[71 LONG BED]

Even though I'm not "restoring" this truck anything I do work on gets restored. Nasty habit of mine. So -- it'll probably -eventually- be restored.

You and me both!! I figure that is a good way of doing it.