Heater Core Instructions, Tips, Do's and Donts
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Anacortes WA
Heater Core Instructions, Tips, Do's and Donts
Im sharing this because I just completed the job and would not have been successful without the help from this forum.
http://my.voyager.net/~sscully/F-150...50_Exp_002.doc
1997-2000+ FordF150
Shopping list from FORD dealer, ($15.00 for 2 sets of heater hose o-rings and snap clip, $40.00 for the heatercore (its metal not plastic), insulated tape to wrap new core with - freebee, 1 gallon of anti freeze).
1. Tying off the antenna to a old shoelace was a great little trick that made the reassembly a snap, allowed pulling antenna cable back out of the hole real easy. I used elect tape too, didnt want "ANY" surprises later!
2. Try to get the heater hose tool from a mechanic willing to loan it out to you. I was pleasantly surprised at the helping hand the dealer mechs were. The tool took a few minutes to figure out. Took a second trip back to the Ford dealer for replacement o-rings and clips. save time buy these first cause you'll break the originals, if you dont, change em anyway, your in this deep!!
3. Leaving all the steering column elect plugs attached was fine and not unhooking the 3 big plugs under the hood would save some time too. I unhooked these before the mech advised me not to mess with them.
4. Try to follow in reverse the "dash removal instructions" so you dont have any "do overs" when you cant get a screw to line up properly. DONT TAKE IT ALL OUT, JUST PULL IT AWAY FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE!!
5. I'm not much at housekeeping, I would get a large box for all the trim parts.
6. Leave screws in their holes, in just a few threads to keepem straight, (E brake and hood, grab handle, ground screws). Just a few less to figure out where they go when your putting it back together a week later like I had to. I wish I had bagged a few of the spares and labled them where they went. had 3 left over, no rattles.
7. I removed the big elect housing right over the heatr core houseing to aide in getting the cover reinstalled, 2 screws, no big deal.
WARNING-if you cant reach the spot to start a screw by hand, either a magnet screw tip or a piece of tape/sticky foam will do the trick when reaching those backside screws on the heater cowling cover, this is not the time to tear the dash back out to get a &^%$ little screw that dropped off the screwdriver or out of the socket.
Tools I used, priceless -
Battery op drill w/ socket adapters/extensions,
5/16, 7mm, 8mm, 10mm for dash screws, 13mm for the steering col nuts,
Flashlight, a must for searching for black screw heads under the dash.
Screwdriver w/ changeable heads for sockets and screws.
A magnet tool for retrieving that socket you cant reach.
Short rubber hose to attach to radiator drain plug.
THE BIGGEY - Printed word doc, step by step instructions w/ pics,
http://my.voyager.net/~sscully/F-150...50_Exp_002.doc
GOOD LUCK,
Don
I'll do yours for 600.00, parts included
(not really)
http://my.voyager.net/~sscully/F-150...50_Exp_002.doc
1997-2000+ FordF150
Shopping list from FORD dealer, ($15.00 for 2 sets of heater hose o-rings and snap clip, $40.00 for the heatercore (its metal not plastic), insulated tape to wrap new core with - freebee, 1 gallon of anti freeze).
1. Tying off the antenna to a old shoelace was a great little trick that made the reassembly a snap, allowed pulling antenna cable back out of the hole real easy. I used elect tape too, didnt want "ANY" surprises later!
2. Try to get the heater hose tool from a mechanic willing to loan it out to you. I was pleasantly surprised at the helping hand the dealer mechs were. The tool took a few minutes to figure out. Took a second trip back to the Ford dealer for replacement o-rings and clips. save time buy these first cause you'll break the originals, if you dont, change em anyway, your in this deep!!
3. Leaving all the steering column elect plugs attached was fine and not unhooking the 3 big plugs under the hood would save some time too. I unhooked these before the mech advised me not to mess with them.
4. Try to follow in reverse the "dash removal instructions" so you dont have any "do overs" when you cant get a screw to line up properly. DONT TAKE IT ALL OUT, JUST PULL IT AWAY FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE!!
5. I'm not much at housekeeping, I would get a large box for all the trim parts.
6. Leave screws in their holes, in just a few threads to keepem straight, (E brake and hood, grab handle, ground screws). Just a few less to figure out where they go when your putting it back together a week later like I had to. I wish I had bagged a few of the spares and labled them where they went. had 3 left over, no rattles.
7. I removed the big elect housing right over the heatr core houseing to aide in getting the cover reinstalled, 2 screws, no big deal.
WARNING-if you cant reach the spot to start a screw by hand, either a magnet screw tip or a piece of tape/sticky foam will do the trick when reaching those backside screws on the heater cowling cover, this is not the time to tear the dash back out to get a &^%$ little screw that dropped off the screwdriver or out of the socket.
Tools I used, priceless -
Battery op drill w/ socket adapters/extensions,
5/16, 7mm, 8mm, 10mm for dash screws, 13mm for the steering col nuts,
Flashlight, a must for searching for black screw heads under the dash.
Screwdriver w/ changeable heads for sockets and screws.
A magnet tool for retrieving that socket you cant reach.
Short rubber hose to attach to radiator drain plug.
THE BIGGEY - Printed word doc, step by step instructions w/ pics,
http://my.voyager.net/~sscully/F-150...50_Exp_002.doc
GOOD LUCK,
Don
I'll do yours for 600.00, parts included
(not really)
Last edited by 97FordF150; Jul 11, 2007 at 04:49 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 6
From: USA
Can you please e-mail me a copy? Ide like to keep them for future reference.
wrr01@aol.com :santa:
wrr01@aol.com :santa:
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 23
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From: Anacortes WA
Heater core instructions
Originally Posted by BlueOvalFitter
Can you please e-mail me a copy? Ide like to keep them for future reference.
wrr01@aol.com :santa:
wrr01@aol.com :santa:
http://my.voyager.net/~sscully/F-150...50_Exp_002.doc
Best of luck
Don
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: western ny
how long did it take you? i did it in about 6hrs completely tearing the dash apart and takeing it out of the truck. it was a PITA i will not do it again. i will pony up some cash next time to have someone else do it
