Heater Core difference - Northern California Ford Owners

This is topic Heater Core difference in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners .

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://californiafords.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=022787

Posted by ROK5.0 (Member # 8589) on :

Ok so I'm going to change my heater core & I hear I shoud get my replacement heater core from the ford dealership instead of a regular part store not a problem....until I call & do a price check $115 vs. Autozones $26.99 life time warrenty. So my question is what's the big difference? Is it really worth it to pay that much more money for the same product? Any & all info is apreciated...THANX

Posted by Blind (Member # 3052) on :

on an 8 hour job, the price difference is completely worth it.

Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Blind:
on an 8 hour job, the price difference is completely worth it.

Posted by sic70stang (Member # 4347) on :

8 hours? who the hell is doing it

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
8 hours? who the hell is doing it

that's book time for a heater core on a foxbody.

Posted by CAStang (Member # 9568) on :

It took me 7hrs to do mine the first time. It's an easy job, but it does take time to pull your dashboard out. It can probably be done in 4 hrs, but 8 hrs is not too far off either.

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by CAStang:
It took me 7hrs to do mine the first time. It's an easy job, but it does take time to pull your dashboard out. It can probably be done in 4 hrs, but 8 hrs is not too far off either.

pull the dash out why?

Posted by ROK5.0 (Member # 8589) on :

How do u do it without pulling out the dash?

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ROK5.0:
How do u do it without pulling out the dash?

next one i do i will shoot pics an make a video on how to do a heater core on a fox with out remove the dash

Posted by ROK5.0 (Member # 8589) on :

Please keep me posted. I would let u do mine but I need to pull my dash for cosmetic reasons anyway

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ROK5.0:
Please keep me posted. I would let u do mine but I need to pull my dash for cosmetic reasons anyway

if that the case pull the dash out then

Posted by 92stangLX (Member # 3252) on :

quote:
Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:

quote:
Originally posted by Blind:
on an 8 hour job, the price difference is completely worth it.

+3 From what I understand this job is a serious PITA.. 8+ hours if you haven't done it before.

Don did my Dad's old '89 and it was worth every penny. [patriot]

Posted by Blind (Member # 3052) on :

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
8 hours? who the hell is doing it

Doing things the right way without cutting anything takes more time than rookie hack job shit.

Posted by CAStang (Member # 9568) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:

quote:
Originally posted by CAStang:
It took me 7hrs to do mine the first time. It's an easy job, but it does take time to pull your dashboard out. It can probably be done in 4 hrs, but 8 hrs is not too far off either.
pull the dash out why?

Im quite interested to know on how to do this without pulling out the dash? I'm assuming there's cutting involved???

Posted by sic70stang (Member # 4347) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Blind:

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
8 hours? who the hell is doing it
Doing things the right way without cutting anything takes more time than rookie hack job shit.

so how long would it take fast hatch?

Posted by Musttanguy (Member # 2251) on :

I have done ALOT of these in my day.....
NEVER EVER thought about doing it any other way than dropping the dash.
I did them without disconnecting A/C lines, but this was a VERY tight fit.

Either factory Ford or NAPA is the only two cores I would install for customers(due to MY warranty)
A lifetime warranty is no good if you have to R&R a core more than once !!!!!

Remember..........
DIRTFT
(Do It Right The First Time)

I cringe at the thought of doing a heater core without pulling the dash [Eek!]

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:

quote:
Originally posted by Blind:

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
8 hours? who the hell is doing it
Doing things the right way without cutting anything takes more time than rookie hack job shit.
so how long would it take fast hatch?

avg is is a 1hr 15min i just pull the dash back no need to remove from the car

Posted by gercolla1 (Member # 3068) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:

quote:
Originally posted by Blind:

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
8 hours? who the hell is doing it
Doing things the right way without cutting anything takes more time than rookie hack job shit.
so how long would it take fast hatch?
avg is is a 1hr 15min i just pull the dash back no need to remove from the car

maybe if the car has no ac from the factory then u wont have to pull the dash otherwise i dont see how lmk how u do this [patriot]

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by gercolla1:

quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:

quote:
Originally posted by Blind:

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
8 hours? who the hell is doing it
Doing things the right way without cutting anything takes more time than rookie hack job shit.
so how long would it take fast hatch?
avg is is a 1hr 15min i just pull the dash back no need to remove from the car
maybe if the car has no ac from the factory then u wont have to pull the dash otherwise i dont see how lmk how u do this

when you lots of trim work you lrean the short cuts.i just did a s type in 6 hrs an it bock for 17 hrs

Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :

Done clean, without evac and recharge to the A/C takes about 3 to 4 hours clean. That's disconnecting the dash and pulling back the passenger side, but not removing it completely. The surprises, stripped or missing hardware I see when doing these jobs is amazing.

Posted by Ryan... (Member # 7089) on :

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:

quote:
Originally posted by Blind:

quote:
Originally posted by sic70stang:
8 hours? who the hell is doing it
Doing things the right way without cutting anything takes more time than rookie hack job shit.
so how long would it take fast hatch?

dammmmm

lol

Posted by ROK5.0 (Member # 8589) on :

Either factory Ford or NAPA is the only two cores I would install for customers(due to MY warranty)
A lifetime warranty is no good if you have to R&R a core more than once !!!!!

so parts plus(which used to be napa) is ok to get a heater core from?

Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :

Get a factory unit [patriot]

Flush the cooling system and make sure you refill with new 50/50 antifreeze. People who add only water, let the systems rust, generally cause these failures over time.

Goodluck either way [patriot]

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:
Done clean, without evac and recharge to the A/C takes about 3 to 4 hours clean. That's disconnecting the dash and pulling back the passenger side, but not removing it completely. The surprises, stripped or missing hardware I see when doing these jobs is amazing.

how do do it without evac an recharge with out mod the box an getting the left rear screw out without break it/b/c i tryed once an it was a pain to do it that way

Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:

quote:
Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:
Done clean, without evac and recharge to the A/C takes about 3 to 4 hours clean. That's disconnecting the dash and pulling back the passenger side, but not removing it completely. The surprises, stripped or missing hardware I see when doing these jobs is amazing.
how do do it without evac an recharge with out mod the box an getting the left rear screw out without break it/b/c i tryed once an it was a pain to do it that way

Why it takes 3-4 hours for me, not 1 like it takes you.....

Edit: and sometimes it takes modifying the box. Some just don't pull out from the firewall the extra couple inches that are needed, where some do just squeeze out enough. The ones that don't I pull it out as far as it will come, then dremel and even line straight across the corner, remove front screws and lift the rear ones to give just enogh access to remove, clean and install the new one. I've "never" had one of these (oem) fail in all the years I've been doing them. However the key is the owners keeping up their cooling systems properly.

[ August 03, 2010, 07:17 PM: Message edited by: hidnn.o.s. ]

Posted by gercolla1 (Member # 3068) on :

he must use a sawsall [Razz]

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:

quote:
Originally posted by fasthatch:

quote:
Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:
Done clean, without evac and recharge to the A/C takes about 3 to 4 hours clean. That's disconnecting the dash and pulling back the passenger side, but not removing it completely. The surprises, stripped or missing hardware I see when doing these jobs is amazing.
how do do it without evac an recharge with out mod the box an getting the left rear screw out without break it/b/c i tryed once an it was a pain to do it that way
Why it takes 3-4 hours for me, not 1 like it takes you.....

I HAVE THE MACHINES TO DO EVAC AN RECHARGES ON A/C SYSTEM BUT IF I CAN SAVE PEOPLE MONEY ON FEON I ALL FOR IT

Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :

quote:
Originally posted by gercolla1:
he must use a sawsall

Can you imagine the mess that would create? There is no room to squeeze a sawzall in there, wow, lol!

Posted by gercolla1 (Member # 3068) on :

u know ur shit it takes 3-4 hours for that job done right and clean [patriot]

[ August 03, 2010, 07:23 PM: Message edited by: gercolla1 ]

Posted by Musttanguy (Member # 2251) on :

quote:
Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:
Done clean, without evac and recharge to the A/C takes about 3 to 4 hours clean. That's disconnecting the dash and pulling back the passenger side, but not removing it completely. The surprises, stripped or missing hardware I see when doing these jobs is amazing.

Obviously another one that has done "a few of these" !!
Your proceedure and time are right on the money to do the job "correctly"

Posted by sic70stang (Member # 4347) on :

sometimes i feel like ford built this car around the heater core.

Posted by 50Reasons (Member # 6452) on :

I pulled my whole dash and center counsil took me an hr , are you guys doing this by hand or using a drill cuz it seemed real easy for me and I did this in the dark with my drop light failing half way through

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

drill an cordless impact an hand tools is what i use

Posted by gercolla1 (Member # 3068) on :

can i ask wtf do you drill?

Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :

quote:
Originally posted by gercolla1:
can i ask wtf do you drill?

LOL, DITTO [Confused]

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

quote:
Originally posted by gercolla1:
can i ask wtf do you drill?

i use my drill with a adanter an a 7mm socket with a magnment on it

Posted by gercolla1 (Member # 3068) on :

oh i see its quicker [patriot]

Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :

that name of the game who want to spend an hour to remove trim peaces by hand

Posted by 50Reasons (Member # 6452) on :

Exactly it's a lot easier with the power tools and I didn't have to drop steering shaft

Posted by ajs91CHPcoupe (Member # 10217) on :

unless ur selling the car just spend the extra cash and get the dealer part since they last 10+ years on average. its worth it to not have to pull your interior apart over and over again.

Fueled by Ford Mustang Owners
on CaliforniaFords.com