I was going out to dinner with my wife and niece and the wife says she smells antifreeze as soon as she says that I smell it to. Windows steamed up on the freeway and I wipe it just makes it worse. Guess I'll be researching heater core replacement when it warms up. I'll drive my Vic until then..

 

Good luck, it's a GIANT PITA!

Jim

 

its not that bad honestly. there is a really good step by step write up on it and if you follow it you can bang it out in a day. i have done mine and a little advice. buy a new blend door assembly from ford when you do the core..the entire assembly is like 65 bucks...why you ask?? i did my core several years ago and did not do the blend door...well the blend door took a dump a few days ago so i had to go back into the dash...took me about 6 hours start to finish.

 

Just had mine done a month ago but took it to the dealor did it for like 350 dollars in california. Not sure though about price because it was my friends friend that was the ford mechanic. Could be more then that. I thought about doing it myself but didn't feel like pulling the whole dash apart and probably breaking clips or fasteners. Soon I'll do a carbon fibre dash (aftermarket) then I won't have that problem again. Can't believe they designed it that way. My Chevy suburbon was right under the glove box done in no time.

 

I've already ordered the Motorcraft core and Doorman blend door from Rock Auto 95 bucks for both shipped. I have the step by step instructions found here. I know a guy who will do it for me if I decide I dont want to wait until its warmer. I dont wanta work outside in the cold.

 

I did mine in 25-30 degree days a few years back! Just work fast lol
Would I do it again? Depends... If I could get someone to do it for under $250, be my guest. If not, Id do it myself in a few hours.

Be careful with those pesky heater hose clips on the core side... Mine were brittle. Broke one removing it. Cost me an arm and a leg at the dealer. I want to say somewhere around $24 for one tiny plastic clip. Being as cold as it was may have played a role in breaking it so maybe a soak in warm water would help.

 

A little tip for removal... When you pull the dash back enough to get to the core, just cut the core like these guys do and don't worry about releasing the connectors in the cramped quarters.

 

the guy who would do it for me would do it for $200 in my garage with my tools. I think it will go on the back burner until march or so. I'll get someone to "help" me and take my time..

 

Its amazing how quick those guys get it done. They have it out in less then a half hour and back in an done in a little over an hour. on the comments they claim they charge $100 plus parts! Wish they were close!

 

Yah the 200 price range is pretty good. Haven't looked at actual book time on it, but that seems about what my friend price would be as well.

You could always bypass it for now to get you running again

 

I decided to get it over with. What a project!

 

I remember when I did the blend door and actuator. I was more relieved when I didn't have any dash bolts left over.

 

There was 1 screw left over so thats pretty good considering there must be close to 250 screws in the project. I tried to do it alone and that was a mistake. The dash is pretty heavy. Need 2 guys to get it far enough to get the AC plenuem housing off. I got a neighbor to help me out. I worked on it off and on for 3 days. probably total 10-12 hours. I'm slow and old..

 

I have replaced 8 heater cores. Not difficult just mnotonous.......

 

I can imagine after 8 of them it would become pretty routine. I never want to do one again.