Block heater install on 2v ..

[9646gt]

Ok I am working on buying another Mustang and it most likely will be from the lower 48, since they are not very common here in Alaska. Now I had the local service center on base install the block heater in my explorer and they charged almost 100 bucks with the cost of coolant. It is a big must up here to have one as the temps can plumit to 40 to 60 degrees below zero for days at a time. And my poor car may not always have the garage and will be parked outside alot when at work. Has anyone done the install your self? What would you rate the difficulty? Is the freeze plug hard to get to? I most likely will do it at the auto skills center where I will have access to a lift for jsut 5 bux an hour. Is there a how to guide anywhere? Most likely looking 99-04 but may end up with older SN95. Thanks for any help guys.

 

[Smokeurhonda]

Don't really have an answer for you, but I just had to say DAMN! 40-60 Below? WTF man. I give you credit.

 

[9646gt]

Yeah lol, it was hell the first day of it, got off work and went to start my car lol. The explorer doesn't have remote start so I got out and scraped windows, un stuck frozen handle and got in. Leather was hard as a rock (need interior heater up here) started right up with heater but belt made horrible noise, powersteering and brakes were froze and took force to use first time. Even the throttle was froze. It's the craziest thing I have ever seen!

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

there are other options.
Moroso sells a heating element that sticks/glues to the bottom of the engine oil pan and just like the block heaters gets plugged in to your 120AC.....and I've even seen some cheaper units that insert into the engine oil dipstick tube.....

 

[N8Dogg98]

I used a magnetic block heater while I was going to school in Grand Forks, ND. Every day I got home I just slapped it on the oil pan. It worked great, they are selling a similar one on e-bay here

 

[mustang50v8]

dont mustangs use an aluminum oil pan. the magnetic one will not work.

 

[N8Dogg98]

dont mustangs use an aluminum oil pan. the magnetic one will not work.

I believe all SN95's have steel oil pans.

 

[9646gt]

I will be using a stick on oil pan heater that looks liek a pad. Isn't enough up here tho lol. It is important to dothe block heater as well. On my explorer I have oil pan heater, block heater and a battery blanket. Need to add tranny heater as well. So I have to go with a block heater, jsut have no clue how hard the freeze plug will be to get to. It's extremely hard to get a car to stat without one and I have seen some people with them STILL no start with all those heaters!

 

[nyuk98gt]

9646gt:

I've always had a block heater in my cars and got one installed in the Mustang (but, in Missouri, and in the garage, a block heater is kind of silly.... but I have it, just in case, lol). The plug kit from Ford comes with detailed instructions with some nice diagrams -- can't go wrong. Here's a short version.....

Drain the rad so you don't get drenched. Next, on the driver side, halfway along the block, you'll find a freeze plug. Tap a flat blade screwdriver into the middle of it and then fianagle the plug out. It is light metal, pressed in, easy to massage out. Slip in the block heater, "U" pointing down, and tighten up the hold-down bolt (the torque spec is in the instructions). Plug in the electrical lead at the heater and route the wire nicely (zip-tying it frequently) until it emerges from behind the driver side headlight. Refill the rad, burp the cooling system (of air), and you are ready to test the new heater.

Now, the trickiest part is rigging something up to prevent the plug end from smacking into the radiator. I drilled a small hole and put a zip-tie in, leaving it open at about 1.5" dia. I have a "plug cover" (a plastic cap to protect the electrical prongs, has a tether that is attached to the electrical wire) and the plug slips through the zip-tie noose and the plug cover prevents the end from falling out of the noose. When warm weather arrives, I tuck the plug and wire in behind the driver side headlight. Nice and tidy.

HTH,

Chris

 

[SaleenGT2001]

lol, i just learned what a block heater is!

 

[[BlackDiamond]]

An option, why not get a stang from Canada and import? (since you havent bought one yet)

My came stock with the block heater.

 

[Smokeurhonda]

I give you credit man. Thinking about driving a stang in an enviroment like that is some hardcore stang love. Props

 

[9646gt]

I figure trying to buy a stang from Canada is to big of a pain with financing and importing and all. Have thought about it tho.

Yeah cold ass weather or not, I am here for 3 years at least and I work my ass off everynight 8-14 hours a night on beat the hell up 20+ year old F-16 fighter jets. I feel like I deserve it and I am determined!

 

[eliteJAE]

9646gt:

I've always had a block heater in my cars and got one installed in the Mustang (but, in Missouri, and in the garage, a block heater is kind of silly.... but I have it, just in case, lol).

HTH,

Chris

LOL just in case for? the day after tomorrow?

9646gt: dood thats pretty gangsta of you to leave your wife and home to serve in a giant freezer for your country, lots of props lol this is tech, i forgot........errr......block heater FTW??