Heater core, it figures.

[David Dorr]

After being SHOless for a year and a half, and finding a clean White/Mocha 90 with 87K original for $2,000, I thought I had myself a steal. Today, I get steam through the vents, antifreeze smell, etc, etc., you know the rest of the story. Looks like I'm in for a long week. I printed Dennis Wolfe's instructions on heater core replacemet for GEN 1s and it looks like a real pain, but I'm gonna tackle it regardless. Is there any other advice that can be given that's not in that write-up. I would sure appreciate it.

 

[Redline]

It's (in my opinion) actually not that terrible of a job. Just takes a long time so you have to be patient. Pay close attention to where everything goes, mabye get some different colored stickers to color code electrical connections with so you know where they go when you put it back together, if they go anywhere at all. I have another writeup someone did for a regular taurus. I can send it to you if you want.

 

[MelectroK]

Can you tell me where you got them directions, I cant find them. Someone said they could email them to me but they never did.

 

[Redline]

Can you tell me where you got them directions, I cant find them. Someone said they could email them to me but they never did.

Got your PM. Email sent!

 

[qiksho]

It's (in my opinion) actually not that terrible of a job. Just takes a long time so you have to be patient. Pay close attention to where everything goes, mabye get some different colored stickers to color code electrical connections with so you know where they go when you put it back together, if they go anywhere at all. I have another writeup someone did for a regular taurus. I can send it to you if you want.

After doing a heater core, full 60k, and clutch jobs, I would seriously say that I would much rather do the 60k or clutch job over the heater core. I found on the 89 I did the heater core on (around 120k) that everything was old and brittle enough it wanted to break rather than come apart. The job in itself wasn't all that bad, but trying not to break everything u take apart is damn near impossible. Just take your time and you should be fine.

 

[David Dorr]

It's (in my opinion) actually not that terrible of a job. Just takes a long time so you have to be patient. Pay close attention to where everything goes, mabye get some different colored stickers to color code electrical connections with so you know where they go when you put it back together, if they go anywhere at all. I have another writeup someone did for a regular taurus. I can send it to you if you want.

That would be great if you could, the more info the better. This sounds like kind of a crazy job.

 

[David Dorr]

Can you tell me where you got them directions, I cant find them. Someone said they could email them to me but they never did.

the address is http://www.denniswolfe.com/Taurus/Heater_Core.htm.

There's a lot of good information on his site about SLOs and SHOs both

 

[SHOtimer]

David, I thought that you dissappeared off the face of the earth. What happened to your first SHO? How is Salinas treating you?

Doug

 

[RoadSHO]

My cousin has a 1989 and is doing his heater also. He is having a problem bleeding the air out of the coolant system. Does anybody have any tips or ideas?
Thanks,

 

[MelectroK]

If your thermostat has a jiggle valve it should work itself out in a few hot cold cycles

 

[jelloslug]

When I take a dash out I like to take out the front seats also. It take another 15 minuets to do but they extra room to work makes a big difference.

 

[Redline]

the address is http://www.denniswolfe.com/Taurus/Heater_Core.htm.

There's a lot of good information on his site about SLOs and SHOs both

Yes, thats one site, althogh I have another writup with a bunch of pictures and stuff. If you want it, pm me and I can email it to you.

 

[David Dorr]

David, I thought that you dissappeared off the face of the earth. What happened to your first SHO? How is Salinas treating you?

Doug

Yeah, I guess I did knida drop off. My first SHO got sold for too cheap. I was thinking of buying another one, but just never saw them around until this one. Interior needs a little work, but it's a great low mile Gen 1 with tons of new parts (tranny, clutch, radiator, axles, and the list goes on). Salinas is treating me the same as usual. Might be moving down to Monterey in a couple of months, but that's just a stone's throw anyway. How are things with you? Sorry about hijacking the thread, guys.

 

[SHOtimer]

Yeah, I guess I did knida drop off. My first SHO got sold for too cheap. I was thinking of buying another one, but just never saw them around until this one. Interior needs a little work, but it's a great low mile Gen 1 with tons of new parts (tranny, clutch, radiator, axles, and the list goes on). Salinas is treating me the same as usual. Might be moving down to Monterey in a couple of months, but that's just a stone's throw anyway. How are things with you? Sorry about hijacking the thread, guys.

I am doing well I'm in socal at school. Will be back in Salinas in 5 weeks to perform a motor swap on my SHO, and work during the summer so that I can return here in the fall. Well, maybe we can get together sometime this summer and meet each other (has your SHO had a complete 60k?...)

Good luck with this heater core, with my SHO approaching 170k that is one thing that I keep praying does not go out.

Doug

 

[David Dorr]

I am doing well I'm in socal at school. Will be back in Salinas in 5 weeks to perform a motor swap on my SHO, and work during the summer so that I can return here in the fall. Well, maybe we can get together sometime this summer and meet each other (has your SHO had a complete 60k?...)

Good luck with this heater core, with my SHO approaching 170k that is one thing that I keep praying does not go out.

Doug

Yep, full 60k has been done. I'd love to get together when you're back in town.

 

[platoribs]

Yes, thats one site, althogh I have another writup with a bunch of pictures and stuff. If you want it, pm me and I can email it to you.

I too would like to review this proceedure, perhaps it is worthy of becoming a sticky D-I-Y subject?

 

[Devin]

A few things that caught me:

-The A/C elbow fittings on the firewall. I had to cut them off. I don't really care about A/C and I will be tearing it all out anyway, but the stupid tool I bought to take them off didn't work at all. Measure the fittings and get the round tool, not the scissor one.

-There are two little screws facing the floor on the HVAC assembly that connect it to the floor vent. I can't see them but you can feel them.

-Label the wires and take pictures. It is the easiest way to put it back the way it came. Also, don't lose your screws. I did but that gave me the reasoning to put new screws in. That and the stupid Ford techs/robots sunk the screws through the plastic, so that made it necessary to get lock washers.

-If it is worth your time, replace the other stuff too. For my job I bought a heater core, new campers tape, new screws, a new blower motor (reused the old squirrel cage) a new blend door motor, and a newer blower control module. I am NEVER doing this job again and I am making damn sure I don't.

-It is pretty impossible to seperate the HVAC system, so it comes out all in one. When I find my picture I will post it.