Car bleeding badly

[65ShelbyClone]

30 minutes to change a heater core in a 90 Mustang?
Good luck.

A half hour?!

 

[8950HO]

well I live in NJ so when i do use the car yes, but I am really never home and it sits in the garage. I just looked it up and 50resto has a heater core kit for $49. Looks like I will be ordering it and sending it to the local Ford Dealership for install

I would buy the heater core from Ford,but a Ford dealer is going to charge large $$$ to install it I would imagine.

 

[MikeC]

I've heard alot of the aftermarket heater cores are poor quality. Anyone heard if this is true.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I've heard both that the Ford cores are better than aftermarket AND that the Ford cores are the exact same as aftermarket.

Part of the problem, at least from my research, is that the core can become physically stressed inthe box an fail or it can be subjected to high pressures. Part of the solution is to install new gooey sealer strips in the box and to put a flow restrictor in the core inlet like Special Service cars have.

 

[Roland69]

and make sure to use a flow restrictor on the inlet side

 

[8950HO]

I've heard alot of the aftermarket heater cores are poor quality. Anyone heard if this is true.

I`ve read complaints of the aftermarket ones not lasting long.Less than a year in some cases.
The first time I replaced mine,I bought one from NAPA and it lasted 8 years.
(got lucky I guess).

The one I bought from Ford back in May was better built.It had thicker tubes and tanks.It was made by Valeo,the company that supplied Ford with clutches.

 

[niklid05]

I read that the aftermarket ones are worse because they dont reinforce the tubes.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

The one I bought from Ford back in May was better built.It had thicker tubes and tanks.It was made by Valeo,the company that supplied Ford with clutches.

Valeo not only supplies Ford with clutches, but Ram as well. I have a Long style(3-finger) clutch in my '68 that I bought as a Ram stock replacement, but the PP said Valeo on it. Back when I had my '89 GT, the guy I got it from said the clutch had been replaced. I pulled it and it was a Valeo. The FMS "HD" clutch I replaced that with was a Valeo also.

 

[jtfairlane]

I've held both a Ford replacement and parts-store aftermarket core in my hands at the same time. The Ford replacement is much better quality than the parts-store generic brand.

Pay no attention to d.s.s 306x, he's being sarcastic. The job to replace a heater core in your 90 GT is nothing less than a total bitch. Do yourself a favor and check out Mustang Monthly's website and do a search on heater core replacement, and up will pop an article on the step by step process. At least you'll know what's involved.

For the time being, as others have mentioned, you can bypass the core by pulling the inlet and outlet hoses off of the heater core and connecting them together. This will just keep more coolant from leaking, but it won't fix anything.

If you are going to have the Ford dealership replace your heater core, do yourself a favor and tell them to install a flow restrictor in your heater core inlet hose. If they have trouble looking up the part, tell them you want them to order/install Ford part # E7VY-18D358-A. This restricts the volume and turbulence of coolant entering the heater core and may help your heater core last longer.

 

[7-UP BILL]

I really doubt that the dealer is going to allow you bring parts in for them to install. If you think about it, it's like bringing eggs and bacon to a restaurant and asking them to cook them for you. BTW, these guys are f'ing with you. it'll take you about 2 days to do the job. The whole dash and console have to be removed. Good luck Sailor!

 

[billison]

if his car does not have ac, he can do it easy, if it has ac it'll be a pita


lets talk about the flow restrictor, what do you need to use, or where can we get it?

 

[MikeC]

if his car does not have ac, he can do it easy, if it has ac it'll be a pita


lets talk about the flow restrictor, what do you need to use, or where can we get it?

The car may already have ono on it. Squeeze the heater hoses from the engine to the firewall, if you feel a lump you already have a restrictor. Mine did.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I think the restrictor is a little slug of 5/8" OD aluminum with a 1/4" hole in the middle. I was going to turn some down at work, but got rid of '89 GT and have since forgotten the exact dimensions.

 

[Glaze]

pre 87 was easier because you could go through the glove box


87+ pretty well need to take the dash out....I have been told the non A/C 87+ was alot easier and could be done quick but no body seems to be able to confirm that

Negative on the 87+ non AC cars. Still as tough as AC cars. Know I have heard of reports of people cutting a section of the plastic housing out and slipping out core from there and than gluing the section of plastic housing back in place. Has anyone tried this on a Mustang though?

Mechanics will normally charge 4 to 6 hours changing out a heater core that doesnt slip out of glove box opening...

 

[Jaswir]

allow 3 to 5hrs to do it!

 

[RYC CUKR]

I have to change mine. Been putting it off as long as possible.

Somewhere on the site there is a great write up with pics and descriptions of all the bolt and screw locations, including the hidden ones.

Here it is

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=646250&highlight=heater+core

 

[Nopantz]

I'm taking it to ford tommorow since I'm only home till Sunday. I am gonna have them replace it in with a Ford Heater Core instead of an aftermarket. The car does have AC so it will take some time I'm sure.

 

[8950HO]

if his car does not have ac, he can do it easy, if it has ac it'll be a pita


lets talk about the flow restrictor, what do you need to use, or where can we get it?

I replaced all the hoses when I did the core in May and the new heater core inlet hose from Ford already had the restrictor installed in the hose.

 

[Black1987Stang]

I replaced all the hoses when I did the core in May and the new heater core inlet hose from Ford already had the restrictor installed in the hose.

I read somewhere you can use a socket as a flow restrictor, I forget what size it was......Also when I bought new hoses last year from Ford the new hose had the restrictor in it already, although I went to get a heater core from them (Downs Ford) but he said they didnt make then anymore , so I just got one from Advance, 2 years later, so far so good .....Im surprised no one mentioned the reason they corrode which leads to pin holes etc is cuz of the electrolysis going on, some people ground the heater core to part of the frame or something so it wont corrode itself out.....I changed mine in a few hours or so, you dont have to take the dash out, just the side of it and u can pull it out and reach behind their and swap it out

 

[Deleted member 87397]

the green is anti-freeze. new heater core is 15$ at auto zone and 30 min to change

I gotta see a 30 minute heater core job. Does your car not have a/c or heating components under the dash dss?