just finished changing the heater core

89blkntch · Nov 22, 2006

Well when I got home around 3, I decided why not knock out all of my interior in the 4 day weekend that I get off work. So I pulle dout the dash and the whole heater core assy. Took me 3 hours to get it out and in. I will post pics tomorrow of the progress and the black int as I inst it.

Roland69 · Nov 22, 2006

cool I want to see pics

SmockDoiley · Nov 23, 2006

Was it an A/C car? Without, it calls for 1.5 hours, with it calls for 5.5! I just changed mine today in my 85. I just pulled the whole dash back. Alldata gives you a laundry list of things to do, but I cut corners by unbolting the whole dash. Still a pain in the ass though for sure.

89blkntch · Nov 23, 2006

heater core fnished w/ pics and details

well as they say the heater core takes like 5.5 hours to do. I think not. I did it in 2 hours. That is including painting all of the interior. first I removed all the int because I am inst black everything this weekend. Those pics will come Fri or Sat.
First I pulled the whole dash out. Took like 30 min to do. Reall easy

second I went into the engine bay and clamped off the heater hose lines from the intake. There is no point in draining the entire cooling system for a job that doesn't need it. I just flushed the whole system last month. I removed the a\c canister and layed it over by the compressor. I am converting from R12 to 134A. and now is the time to do it.

third I pulled the entire assy into the car and had access right to the top of the core. Easy as pie. replaced the core and cleaned out all the dust inside the assy.

Finally I just put it back together and wa la. One changed heater core. I am gonna clean all the inside bay the firewall and all the harnesses and all that crap before I put it together again. I also am gonna wrap my ducts with tape to prevent leaks. I also used high adhesive weather stripping glue and sealed the entire fire wall around all components going into the engine bay. Make sure it is water tight before the new carpet.

I will post pics tommorow of the carpet inst and the black int. I still am waiting for the headliner and the seats to arrive. All else is gonna be good. Sorry for the long post but its resto time.

Jaswir · Nov 23, 2006

geez 2 hours to do a heater core? or 5.5hrs?

i didnt think it took that much time

89blkntch · Nov 23, 2006

I did it in 2 hours. It isnt as hard as everyone says it is. People leave there dash in which makes it a pain in the but. If you do what they do and hang it half way pust pull the other 4 screws and pull it out. gives you access to the whole thing. I also removed the bolts that hold the assy from inside the eng bay which allowed it to fall into to cab. Putting the heater core right there.

8950HO · Nov 23, 2006

30 minutes to pull the whole dash out.
How can you remove the entire dash that fast,there`s tons of stuff to disconnect?

Hope it goes back together ok with no left over screws.

bubba-dough · Nov 23, 2006

Jaswir said:
geez 2 hours to do a heater core? or 5.5hrs?

i didnt think it took that much time

The first time you do it, if you do it like the books and write-ups say, will take about 5 hours. After you do it once, or if you listen to the right people off the bat, it takes like 2 hours. There are alot of corners that can be cut. If its just a heater core and no ac all you have to do is get the dash pulled out enough to reach the heater box.

89blkntch · Nov 25, 2006

interior is going in

Well I got the core done and the rest painted and started to do the inst this weekend. Took the car out to my garage that we all use. It is an 8 car garage with 2 roll up stalls and we are gonna put the booth in the back corner next to it we are putting the lift.
new and old carpet

dyno mat installed

carpet layed in and installed

dash painted and ready to inst

ass it sets as of now.

The wife works and I have my son so I don't have time to work on it today. I am replacing all the screws and any bod mounts and getting the harness all tucked up good and out of the way and replaced a lot of wires that were looking pretty gaggly. here are some pics of the paintbooth that we just got and around the shop of some of the other guys projects and interest. The honda has all gator int. and shaved everything. Once we get the ducting for the booth it will be the first to roll is. Mine is gonna roll in this spring. I need color inputs from you guys.

:SNSign:

Roland69 · Nov 25, 2006

the vents are still red inside.....sticks out like a sore thumb.....Dash looks real good though

89blkntch · Nov 25, 2006

I still gotta pull them out I am going to look into polished vents probably. I think that would look good. I am also getting the billet a/c knobs and door handles and window and lock buttons

310stanger · Nov 25, 2006

I dread having to do this job, hence me maintaining my cooling system like I got ocd. I work at a dealer as a tech and being that its not the easiest thing to do on your off hours in risk of tying up a bay I really dread when i have to do this job. I can sense it now pulling that dash and clips breaking all over the interior, stuff not fitting back right new squeeks and finding something i dont wanna see back there.

Daggar · Nov 25, 2006

The two hours doesn't look like it included reinstallation of the dash and related material. The 5.5 hrs listed in the book is pulling the thing apart, replacing the core, then putting it all back together.

Nice writeup though... pics are good too.

PJB · Nov 25, 2006

I need to find somebody to do mine. Right now its bypassed because it leaks.
Driving to work when its 25* with no heat really sucks.

1FatPony · Nov 25, 2006

wow I didnt think this was that involved. Mine is bypassed right now but I bought a new core awhile ago but havent had the time to install it. On my 66 it took about 10 minutes total. I want to paint my dash as well so I will probably go the long route. Nice pics and write up though. It will definitly be useful when I do mine.

Darkwriter77 · Nov 25, 2006

Isn't there some ghetto way a lazy guy could go about it? I mean, something involving a saber saw and/or a 4" grinder and then some duct tape and/or JB Weld to reassemble? (I'm being utterly serious here.) I'd sure like to have heat in my car before I move back to the Midwest - not so much an issue here in the desert, but back home, brrrrrrrr! - and I don't wanna pay some chump $500 to do it (and risk him screwing it up or the core leaking and needing a re-install), nor do I have the time/resources to go ripping out the whole interior.

8950HO · Nov 25, 2006

Darkwriter77 said:
Isn't there some ghetto way a lazy guy could go about it? I mean, something involving a saber saw and/or a 4" grinder and then some duct tape and/or JB Weld to reassemble? (I'm being utterly serious here.) I'd sure like to have heat in my car before I move back to the Midwest - not so much an issue here in the desert, but back home, brrrrrrrr! - and I don't wanna pay some chump $500 to do it (and risk him screwing it up or the core leaking and needing a re-install), nor do I have the time/resources to go ripping out the whole interior.

Some guy`s butcher the heater box to get at the core,but I`d rather do it the right way.
This thread shows a pic of a butchered heater box.
You don`t have to rip out the whole interior,but it still takes time.

I don`t think replacing a heater core should be turned into a speed contest to see who can replace it the fastest.

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

ryan218 · Nov 25, 2006

what type of paint did you use for the interior parts?

89blkntch · Nov 26, 2006

int almost done rims next

well I still am waiting on the door cards to come in. I am getting the red fabric removed and black inst with the pony emblem stiched into it. Also on the bottom where that pocket was I am getting it make smooth. Need the headliner and the kinckpanels also to be put in. I know what you are thinking. RED SEATS WITH ALL BLACK. They are gonna get changed. I am still shopping for the ones that I want. I have sat in some nice seats and some bad ones to. It all takes time. Now onto rims. im thinking 16's http://www.americanmuscle.com/16x8-4lug-cobra-r-silver.html
I dont know if i should go chrome or not. Way to expensive for me right now. I am leaning heavily on those though. I am also for christmas getting the whole billet package for the int. the vents, a/c knobs, window and lock switches, shift foot bezal, and door seal plates. I just got the int in last night and couldn't wait for the drive. The carpet needs vacumed out though. It is so quite inside my car now that I have all that new mat and carpet down. It is dusty from the roads down to the shop last night. Sorry for the dirty look on a new int

View attachment 421636

Daggar · Nov 26, 2006

Did you use Krylon paint on your interior pieces instead of an interior dye?

just finished changing the heater core

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