[StangLX93]

the "dumb Gum" is applied while there assembling the car at the factory, so all the parts are out of the car during the build of the car, so they put the sealant in, then the heater core, then install the cover and install the heater box..etc....and yes coolant changes within regular seasonal maintence will help the life of the heater core along with your engine, and radiator, and all other engine coolant componets,

Also with the A/C i did a conversion kit from aerodynamics, the 3 bottles of r-134a, and PAG oil, i did this about 4 years ago, and even after letting it sit in storage while i was in iraq the A/C still blew cold air, it needed a charge but overall it held up well, if the A/C system is still working with the old R-12 then if you get it evacuated professionally cost about $75 depending on where you go, the R-134 conversion works beautifully, but i understand like myself noone wants to pay form somone to take the own trash out if you catch my drift

[1BAD6T6]

Stang - Great write up! Came in handy the two nights. I used a deep well socket to prop up the right side and a 1 1/2" socket on the left. I bent a few of the fins on the rear passenger corner but I doubt it'll hurt anything.

It was interesting to note that the install instructions that came with my new core said that "tap water" is death to any radiator or heater core and will cause premature failure. They said to use distilled water only. I've used about a 40/60 mix including tap water in all my vehicle my whole life and haven't noticed this premature failure. Think there's anything to this? Can these cores last longer than 6-8 years with distilled?

[StangLX93]

the reason they say distilled water, is cause distilled water has had most if not all of it minerals removed, tap has everything from alkaline to bromine, well with that said when its in your car for long period of time the tap water can corrode and put strain on cooling componets, distilled water reduces the effect drastically thanks for the compliment, i feel better knowing im helping others cause somtimes when stuff breaks you think OMG how am i going to fix this

[Mercedez L.]

Originally Posted by StangLX93

the "dumb Gum" is applied while there assembling the car at the factory, so all the parts are out of the car during the build of the car, so they put the sealant in, then the heater core, then install the cover and install the heater box..etc....and yes coolant changes within regular seasonal maintence will help the life of the heater core along with your engine, and radiator, and all other engine coolant componets,

Also with the A/C i did a conversion kit from aerodynamics, the 3 bottles of r-134a, and PAG oil, i did this about 4 years ago, and even after letting it sit in storage while i was in iraq the A/C still blew cold air, it needed a charge but overall it held up well, if the A/C system is still working with the old R-12 then if you get it evacuated professionally cost about $75 depending on where you go, the R-134 conversion works beautifully, but i understand like myself noone wants to pay form somone to take the own trash out if you catch my drift

I agree sometimes the car isn't the problem it is the people who work on it and mess it up. How much was the R-134A conversion? Where do you get that done?

[Mercedez L.]

Originally Posted by 1BAD6T6

Stang - Great write up! Came in handy the two nights. I used a deep well socket to prop up the right side and a 1 1/2" socket on the left. I bent a few of the fins on the rear passenger corner but I doubt it'll hurt anything.

It was interesting to note that the install instructions that came with my new core said that "tap water" is death to any radiator or heater core and will cause premature failure. They said to use distilled water only. I've used about a 40/60 mix including tap water in all my vehicle my whole life and haven't noticed this premature failure. Think there's anything to this? Can these cores last longer than 6-8 years with distilled?

Prestone now sells a 50/50 mix of coolant and water so everything is pre-mixed and in one bottle.

[StangLX93]

i paid 36.99 @ autozone, and advanceautoparts has it as well, since its out of season it might be a bit hard to come by, but it take about 30min to do, provided your system doesnt have a freon charge in it, two easy checks to find out, turn your A/C on with the hood popped look at the clutch spining directly in front of the A/C compressor, or the low pressure line, thats the hose that runs over the intake, thats the low pressure line, take the cap off and it looks like a tire valve take a key or screw driver and push it in quickly and see if anything hisses out, but watch your face, and do this with the car off, if any thing comes out, you still have pressure/freon and you'll need to get the system evacuated, everything comes in the kit including a cd/rom instructions

[Mercedez L.]

Originally Posted by StangLX93

i paid 36.99 @ autozone, and advanceautoparts has it as well, since its out of season it might be a bit hard to come by, but it take about 30min to do, provided your system doesnt have a freon charge in it, two easy checks to find out, turn your A/C on with the hood popped look at the clutch spining directly in front of the A/C compressor, or the low pressure line, thats the hose that runs over the intake, thats the low pressure line, take the cap off and it looks like a tire valve take a key or screw driver and push it in quickly and see if anything hisses out, but watch your face, and do this with the car off, if any thing comes out, you still have pressure/freon and you'll need to get the system evacuated, everything comes in the kit including a cd/rom instructions

But those prices you quote is only if you do it yourself. If you have a mechanic do it then what are the costs?
What happens if you just by-pass the heatercore and not replace it? I need my air conditioner and freon is expensive and hard to find.

[88redGT]

i keep saying I am going to install a new heater core and I know I will have t within the next month. I might even do it this weekend but I doubt it. Great write up and I like the pictures.

[StangLX93]

Originally Posted by Mercedez L.

But those prices you quote is only if you do it yourself. If you have a mechanic do it then what are the costs?
What happens if you just by-pass the heatercore and not replace it? I need my air conditioner and freon is expensive and hard to find.

the prices by dealer or car service shop is going to be much more from 150-300 depending on service you have performed, i by passed my heater core for the whole summer, and had no problems
r-134a (new freon) is about 8 bucks, and r-12 (old freon) is close to 50buck a can, and you need a ASE certification auto HVAC licsense to purchase this type of freon if you can even find it, most if not all service repair shops have stopped using r-12 all together, the cost to dispose, store, and purchase and less r-12 vehicles has rendered no profit, and the need for special hazardous license to posses is expensive

[Mercedez L.]

Originally Posted by StangLX93

the prices by dealer or car service shop is going to be much more from 150-300 depending on service you have performed, i by passed my heater core for the whole summer, and had no problems
r-134a (new freon) is about 8 bucks, and r-12 (old freon) is close to 50buck a can, and you need a ASE certification auto HVAC licsense to purchase this type of freon if you can even find it, most if not all service repair shops have stopped using r-12 all together, the cost to dispose, store, and purchase and less r-12 vehicles has rendered no profit, and the need for special hazardous license to posses is expensive

What happens if you do a bypass on heatercore? You lose use of heater?
If you have a shop do a heatercore on these cars, It will cost more than that. They charge you one whole day to do this job.
I understand that there are kits available to convert the freon on these old cars to R-134A system but costs around $800+.

[StangLX93]

Originally Posted by Mercedez L.

What happens if you do a bypass on heatercore? You lose use of heater?
If you have a shop do a heatercore on these cars, It will cost more than that. They charge you one whole day to do this job.
I understand that there are kits available to convert the freon on these old cars to R-134A system but costs around $800+.

yes you lose the use of your heater, so no heat for the cold months, the coversion kits your looking at most likely include a new compressor, accumlator, evaportor, and condensor, new hoses, o-rings etc.... that is the proper way to convert, like starting fresh, the Areodynamics kit for 36.99 is just a freon change,and there are risks involved when you use these kits

[Mercedez L.]

Originally Posted by StangLX93

yes you lose the use of your heater, so no heat for the cold months, the coversion kits your looking at most likely include a new compressor, accumlator, evaportor, and condensor, new hoses, o-rings etc.... that is the proper way to convert, like starting fresh, the Areodynamics kit for 36.99 is just a freon change,and there are risks involved when you use these kits

Thanks for the info
Yes you got that right it is a conversion kit everything is done but the cost is over $1,000.
I don't really need a heater if my heatercore goes. What is the cost to have the heatercore bypassed? Didn't the CHP for some reason had their heatcore bypassed?

[StangLX93]

its easy to bypass the heater core, just plug the two hoses coming from the core at the firewall, with a tube that fits into the ends of the hoses, then clamp the ends down and check for leaks, it takes some wrestling to get the hoses to bend cause they are preformed

[Mercedez L.]

Originally Posted by StangLX93

its easy to bypass the heater core, just plug the two hoses coming from the core at the firewall, with a tube that fits into the ends of the hoses, then clamp the ends down and check for leaks, it takes some wrestling to get the hoses to bend cause they are preformed

Thanks for the info.
It is Like a U tube or one tube with holes on each end? Is there alot less work involved here? You don't have to remove your interior like when you put in a new heatercore?
Just go right into the engine compartment on firewall?
I wonder do alot of people do this plug in fix?

[StangLX93]

Originally Posted by Mercedez L.

Thanks for the info.
It is Like a U tube or one tube with holes on each end? Is there alot less work involved here? You don't have to remove your interior like when you put in a new heatercore?
Just go right into the engine compartment on firewall?
I wonder do alot of people do this plug in fix?

yes your right, all from the engine compartment, i would imagine most do this, cause i'll admit i was a bit itimidated about the job at first, when it busted i had just returned from iraq, and really the last thing i wanted to do was fix my heater core, i was more interested in spending time with my wife, so i waited but luckly not too long, driving on to base this morning was very cold!!!!