Restrictor/fill info from the manufacturer, might help -

 

Thanks Jbrew for your post!

As far as the Tap water, i would only use the tap or hose water to help flush out ll the old coolant. When i refill with the new stuff, i have a 50/50 premix.

this is the post i am following for the coolant change.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/v8...ntifreeze.html

 

What is the purpose of the foam sticky tape around the heater core?

 

It holds the heater core in place and seals the ends so air cannot leak around it.

 

I was wondering because the dealer did not give me and foam sticky tape, all they had was a thin foam rubber tape, wonder if that will do?

How would a foam tape stop air leaks? Air could make its way through foam

 

Without the tape the core would be loose in its housing. The foam tape fills up the space.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Would that weather stripping tape work ? They sell that at the hardware. I'm not sure what exactly you need, but they do sell all kinds of that stuff.

 

I wouldn't use tap water even for a flush because you will leave some of it in the system. All tap water has some hardness (calcium and other minerals). This stuff will plate out on the cooling surfaces when it is heated up. I had to replace a heater core in the past due to it plugging up from the tap water I mixed with the antifreeze back then. That is when I learned the hard way.

 

I've been mixing softened water for about 8 years and 200,000 + miles in this engine. every thing is still stock - heater core radiator etc.. I have went thru 2 sets of intake gaskets and the heads and aluminum intake have pitted up/corroded pretty bad around the water jackets. I fixed all that, but yea- still have the stock heater core. I don't use the Ford restrictor - I use two 5/8 hose's instead of the one 3/4. No problems so far.

Just guessing - A heater core might be in my near future lol.

 

Sorry guys i am a couple of weeks late, but after a full weekend, i finished the heater core and everything went smoothly, thanks to everyone here and the great posts.
I started to use the step by step instructions with the black and white drawings, but when you are taking soo many screws and nuts off ,the black and white pictures on a lot of steps were hard to locate. i did find a post that someone actually took pictures of every step, these pictures were dead on. When i get a chance i will post those steps with the pictures.

Putting everything back together was a breeze compared to taking everything apart.

Thanks for all your help, and saving me $ 1100.00

 

That's great to hear! Yea ,post those pics or the link if you get a chance. I know this job is in my future. Still have the stock heater core, so I'm most likley going to have to do this soon. I haven't had the dash out yet and have never done a heater core lol, - so I'll save this thread for future reference.

 

jbrew,

If you ever pop a core call me and I'll give you a hand. I print out the R&R instructions from the manual and follow them. Eight cores and not a rattle. If you don't follow the sequence properly on install it can rattle.

.

 

Thanks JMC. I'll do that. Hey, which manual do you have? I use the Workshop, Wiring (EVTM), PC/ED service info DVD set from 96 - 07.
Sounds like you may have something more specific for the task..? I'll definitely take you up on the offer if your not to busy

Actually, I moved - pretty damn close to the bridge now ehh

 

My CDs are year specific. 1 CD for 1 year. I have the HELM paper manual for the 1997 F-150 and the CD is the same page for page.
EDIT: I bet the info is the same as yours.



Regards

Jean Marc Chartier