i know this has been talked about before but. does anyone have the short cut to installing the a/c heater core. the book calls for 3 hrs. does this mean it will take someone that hasn't done this before 6 hrs. i need a "heater core book for dummies".73' GRABBER thanks for any help...frank... L.T.N.G.
It's an absolute PAIN in the ass and takes a LOT more than 3 hours. It's easy to break stuff too while doing it. Heater core replacment is so much easier on a non-A/C Maverick, but I don't want to give up my A/C. It's a piss-poor design but many of todays cars are no better. We can put a man on the moon but cannot do something as simple as making an access pannel on cars for easy heater core replacment...
Most Fords.... ...are that way. They start out by hanging the heater core from a string on the assembly line, and then build the rest of the car around it! Seth
I recently changed mine and wow, it was horrible. once everything was removed I decided to redo my entire dash. if you can get that changed in 3 hours you're a magician. it's about as bad of a design as the wiper motor, ugh.
oops frank, just now found this thread, sounds like you did ok by your email........now if mine starts to leak..............Robert ps mailing address???
Re: Most Fords.... LOL that is a perfect way of putting Fords inability to make dashboards easy to work on . I am a tall person . Generally when I have to do work under a ford dashboard the first thing I do is remove the front seat . That extra half hour of work to remove the seat(s) makes all the difference for me !
That’s really not what I want to hear… I have to replace mine soon… I’ve never done it before… How is it done accurately? I remember going as far as removing the clips… and once I realized I HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH…There wasn’t enough sunlight left… but the good news is…It’s not leaking anymore.
Well, you can bypass it under the hood until you get time to fix it. It's been a couple of years, but from memory, the best way to do it is to remove the complete lower dash, the linkage to the heater box, two difficult studs and nuts that bolt it to the center section of the dash, and a bunch of clips. I was able to replace mine without removing the entire box or cracking open the AC. Once you get the heater box disconnected from everything, you can remove all the clips and drop the bottom half without removing the upper. It's not easy, but it can be done. You have to reach around and remove some of them blind. Make sure to bring your old core into the parts store when sourcing a replacement. The may sell you a Granada one that allegedly supersedes the Maverick part, but the angle that the lines exit the core are different. Make sure your core is as similar as possible.
just did one for my son yesterday...take the lower dash out...remove the bolts / hoses under the hood 7/16..go ahead and remove the centert vent and remove the blower motor with the box...a few vac lines no big deal..roll the box top down then bottom out...it comes out pretty easy..BE CAREFUL NOT TO BREAK THE DRAIN THAT GOES THROUGH THE FLOOR..it is toward the passenger side trans tunnel...just do it and dont rush...piece of cake:bananaman
71gold, 357 Grabber is right. Just do it. I procrastinated on my first one. Then just dove in. I've done two of them so far. The second one was easier. Guys say they can replace the heater core without breaking the A/C lines. I just see how it can been done. If you have any trouble and break anything or misplace any small pieces let me know. I have a couple of A/C heater units. One is being parted out. Caution when you are taking off the plastic dash panel. That old plastic is very brittle. Good luck. Here are steps that I documented on my first one. If NOTE: A/C lines will need to be disconnected so heater unit can be pulled away from firewall. Check with local A/C repair shop to see if they will evacuate and capture Freon. It can be reinstalled after heater core replacement. Place all fasteners in Zip-Lock bags with paper tag for ID Remove glove box door Remove glove box screws (inside, top, sides, bottom) Remove screws for plastic dash panel *need to unfasten A/C vent hoses Remove glove box card board Push up passenger side A/C vent duct Remove metal brace *mark passenger side and top Remove plastic floor vent from blower/motor assembly Remove passenger side kick panel *will need to pull back carpet later Remove blower/motor assembly *one nut inside blower outlet *twist counter clockwise (outlet up) Remove drain hose from bottom of heater box *slide clamp down hose *push hose down out of the way Disconnect control cable from heater box *carefully remove clip to reuse *use very small flat blade screw driver or scribe Remove canister in engine compartment *Blue, hose to air cleaner *note where vacuum hose goes *will allow for more room to get at heater hoses Remove canister mounting bracket *will allow for more room to get at heater hoses Remove vacuum reservoir *note where vacuum lines go Remove heater control valve *inlet valve in heater hose *note the side inlet is on heater core *note where vacuum lines connected Disconnect A/C lines Remove heater hoses *cut with a knife and peel off Remove (3) mounting nuts from the firewall (under hood) that hold heater box assembly Remove (1) screw fastener under dash that holds heater box assembly *located next to kick panel up high Place plastic bag on carpet to catch anti-freeze that drips when heater unit is tipped during removal Pull heater assembly away from firewall Set unit on floor on passenger side Remove spring clips fasteners that hold heater box top and bottom together *note location of clips Set the top half to the left *on trans hump Note location of mounting screws for metal brackets inside of heater box bottom half *what side is up Remove metal bracket for heater door Remove heater door *carefully remove clip on end of shaft to reuse *use very small flat blade screw driver or scribe *note the end of the shaft the cable connects to and how it comes out of heater door Remove bracket for heater core *note screw locations Remove heater core *try to save material used to wrap the outside of heater core Wipe out all dirt inside heater box Re-assemble in reverse order. Add anti-freeze mixture to appropriate level. Run engine and recheck coolant level. Have A/C serviced and checked for leaks.
I replaced mine without cracking the AC. Just disconnect the little zip strips under the hood and you can pull tye AC lines almost 6 inches thru the firewall. Why would anybody lie about that?
Reddnight I also need instructions if anyone has them to replace a heater core from a 72 maverick and it does have air. Thankd
You betcha! That is the only way I can do it either! I had a 69 Galaxie with factory ac that had a plate under the hood that had 4 screws holding it on. The heater core was removed after you took this plate off. It took all of 5 minutes! Why the hell did Ford screw up so bad when they made the one for Mav's and comets? Mine is unhooked right now, as it started leaking. Of course it's right when it's going to get cold!
This could help: http://1bad6t.com/Maverick/repair/chassis_electrical_01a.html Scroll about half-way down.
