Everyone's favorite repair....
#1
Service Manager
Thread Starter
Everyone's favorite repair....
It's heater core time on my GSP!!! It's not that bad when you've done a hundred of them but still nothing to look forward to
#3
FR500 Member
Join Date: August 15, 2005
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so what's the best one to use? any particular brand? obviously stay away from cheap junk and guessing OEM, but, just asking anyway. lol, it would be cool if there was a tough "stacked plate" design that could fit in there...
#6
Shelby GT500 Member
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oh god, im having nightmares right now. i need a hug! i did the first one on my 86gt. i paid for someone to do it n my 92. as kelly clarkson sings "Never Again" haha, i just dont fit in tight places. bt it prob helps when the interior is completely out!
#7
Service Manager
Thread Starter
It was only about 4 hours start to finish and that included rebuilding the underdash wiring harness thanks to a previous owner that had no business touching anything electrical!
Here is a lesson to never forget....this previous owner installed a parts store core....NEVER...and I mean NEVER EVER buy a parts store heater core. The quality isn't there and the most I have ever seen one last is 1 year and have seen them fail as soon as 3 months. Here is a picture of the core that came out....the leak started due to a poorly soldered joint at the tube(see it pulled out in the 2nd pic).
ALWAYS buy a FORD heater core!!!!! People complain it's $30 more....well, is that $30 savings worth it when you have to go in and replace it again?!? I always tell people this and only a few listen....that is when I love saying "I told you so" when I hear it is leaking only a short time later.
Here is a lesson to never forget....this previous owner installed a parts store core....NEVER...and I mean NEVER EVER buy a parts store heater core. The quality isn't there and the most I have ever seen one last is 1 year and have seen them fail as soon as 3 months. Here is a picture of the core that came out....the leak started due to a poorly soldered joint at the tube(see it pulled out in the 2nd pic).
ALWAYS buy a FORD heater core!!!!! People complain it's $30 more....well, is that $30 savings worth it when you have to go in and replace it again?!? I always tell people this and only a few listen....that is when I love saying "I told you so" when I hear it is leaking only a short time later.
#8
It was only about 4 hours start to finish and that included rebuilding the underdash wiring harness thanks to a previous owner that had no business touching anything electrical!
Here is a lesson to never forget....this previous owner installed a parts store core....NEVER...and I mean NEVER EVER buy a parts store heater core. The quality isn't there and the most I have ever seen one last is 1 year and have seen them fail as soon as 3 months. Here is a picture of the core that came out....the leak started due to a poorly soldered joint at the tube(see it pulled out in the 2nd pic).
ALWAYS buy a FORD heater core!!!!! People complain it's $30 more....well, is that $30 savings worth it when you have to go in and replace it again?!? I always tell people this and only a few listen....that is when I love saying "I told you so" when I hear it is leaking only a short time later.
Here is a lesson to never forget....this previous owner installed a parts store core....NEVER...and I mean NEVER EVER buy a parts store heater core. The quality isn't there and the most I have ever seen one last is 1 year and have seen them fail as soon as 3 months. Here is a picture of the core that came out....the leak started due to a poorly soldered joint at the tube(see it pulled out in the 2nd pic).
ALWAYS buy a FORD heater core!!!!! People complain it's $30 more....well, is that $30 savings worth it when you have to go in and replace it again?!? I always tell people this and only a few listen....that is when I love saying "I told you so" when I hear it is leaking only a short time later.
I've been lucky so far, I installed mine in October or November of '05 and its still leak free. Do dealerships still sell fox heater cores? I never recalled seeing a new Ford unit for sale, LRS has what they call "the good ones" but they don't mention Ford for sure.
#10
Service Manager
Thread Starter
Yes, Ford does still sell them....Ford Part number E9LY-18476-A. The ones labeled "good ones" are the exact same ones sold by the auto parts store. It's all marketing hype to get the sale.
#11
Cobra Member
I installed one in my '85 along with a new evaporator from the Zone. Still working good. Install date February 1997! I think the biggest thing is QCing the 'cheap' parts before installing them. I grab the tubes on the heater core in the parts store and try to twist them out and look for poor solder adherance. kennyg
#12
Service Manager
Thread Starter
I installed one in my '85 along with a new evaporator from the Zone. Still working good. Install date February 1997! I think the biggest thing is QCing the 'cheap' parts before installing them. I grab the tubes on the heater core in the parts store and try to twist them out and look for poor solder adherance. kennyg
#14
Oh my, yes Ive done 4 and the one in my 87 is going again, the tail signs of vapor on the windshield, so I bypassed it and flushed it out, put a little sealent just in the core and flushed it our and so far so good. I have sveral pieces of wood in my tool box just for the heater core!!!
#15
Service Manager
Thread Starter
Yes, the 87-93 5.0 Mustangs had them originally. The other thing I have done on 2 of my cars was install a 7lb radiator cap which lowers the pressure in the system and helps save an older core.....
#16
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the way everyone is talking about replacing heater cores, I have a feeling I will be facing the same task in the future, hopefully later than sooner...
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