Heater core

[QWKSNKE]

Doing a heater core change in the SVO. Why can I not get the instrument cluster out far enough to get the speedometer cable loose?

Also there appears to be a screw sticking through the firewall holding the heater box (threaded side towards the interior) on the bottom left hand side. Where is the head to it. I jacked up the car and looked towards the bottom of the firewall but could not find the head where I could put a socket on it and back it out

[04 Mach1]

Lee with the older years (86 and older) you do not have to remove the hole heater box. Have helped jason with his about 3 time its it takes about 2 hours. They ain't like the 88 - 93 where the hole box and dash has to come out.

[QWKSNKE]

hmmm. you wanna come by the house? :D

I already have the dash almost out, most of the heater box loose, etc..

Freaking speedo cable behind the instrument cluster is killing me now :rant:

[04 Mach1]

Ya that speedo is a pain in the a**. I have found out that if you pull the driver seat out and lay on your back up side down you cah get it with the cluster installed throught the back side. If ya still need a hand give me a yell tommorow and i can come by.

[04 Mach1]

correction you still have to remove the entire heater box, but on the 86 and older you can remove the fan assembly from the heater box and then pull the rest of the heater box out.

[Craig K.]

On the Non-A/C (86 and oler) cars, all you have to do is pull the glove box inner liner out, then you have straight access to the heater core, takes about 30 minutes to do.

Lee as I recall from doing the heater core in my 86 SVO, drop the steering column ( you have to any way) then you can get to the speed-o cable easier.

If I had known you were doing this, this week I could had tried to get you my set of 1985 service manuals.

I will be leaving to go out of town early tomorrw, sorry.

[1Quik85GT]

I changed the heater core on my car about 6-7yrs ago...Lee, what I done was dropped the steering column down, and then loosened all the screws for the dash, and pulled it out, not completely out, but far enough where i could get to the Heater core, It wasnt a pretty job, but it was gravy after that gettin the heater core out, ubt puttin it back together was as fun as taking it apart...good luck, if ya need more advice call my cell 441-5288

[LeeH]

On the Non-A/C (86 and oler) cars, all you have to do is pull the glove box inner liner out, then you have straight access to the heater core, takes about 30 minutes to do.




My first fox body was a 79RS Capri(around 1985) and then I grauduated up to an 84GT(in mid 1986). I had the dash out of both of those cars a few times due to heater core and evaperator problems, The first thing is to get the steering column down and as Craig said then you can reach the speedometer cable and release the little plastic retaining clip. My RS Capri was an A/C delete car which I later changed over to factory A/C , That was a PITA.

[QWKSNKE]

yeah I have the column down already.

The main problem I am at now is getting the speedo cable unhooked from the speedo. I cannot pull the instrument cluster out far enough to get my hand back there.

[streetstang88]

i started getting that smelling coolant when i turn the heater on and a little steam on the windshield , humm guess i'm due for a heater core also

[1Quik85GT]

just pull it Lee....you have to tug on it a little bit, mine was like that, but came right out

[QWKSNKE]

been working on it a few hours today...

:fuss: That's all I got to say about it. Still don't have that POS speedo cable unhooked

[TheJeanyus]

Call up Bitch Hands. :jester:

[QWKSNKE]

he is about 2000 miles away. would you like to take his place today :D

[TheJeanyus]

he is about 2000 miles away. would you like to take his place today :D
My hands actually are just as small or smaller, but I'll be at my grandparent's house installing a wireless network if Meredith would ever get here. :rant:

[Dale McPeters]

been working on it a few hours today...

:fuss: That's all I got to say about it. Still don't have that POS speedo cable unhooked

BIG Pair of wire cutters works really well in this type of situation.....:jester:

[QWKSNKE]

BIG Pair of wire cutters works really well in this type of situation.....:jester:

don't tempt me!

[Dale McPeters]

don't tempt me!

:lol:.....it would be a lot faster....

[SthrnDaizey]

:tlash: Heater core........'nuff said!

[93Cobra#2771]

I had a similar problem first time out on my cluster removal - couldn't get my hands in there for the life of me.

Ended up using a BIG set of needlenose plier. Was able to grip it enough to get it to disengage. They were the kind where the joint is pretty close to the handle, and the jaws/stems were much longer than the handle.

[Dale McPeters]

I had a similar problem first time out on my cluster removal - couldn't get my hands in there for the life of me.

Ended up using a BIG set of needlenose plier. Was able to grip it enough to get it to disengage. They were the kind where the joint is pretty close to the handle, and the jaws/stems were much longer than the handle.

Aaaahhh I would just use the cutters...........:banana:

[93Cobra#2771]

Yeah, but those cutters won't bust any walnuts.™

[Dale McPeters]

Yeah, but those cutters won't bust any walnuts.â„¢

:lol:

By the way nice TM.........

[QWKSNKE]

update...

Thanks to Wall96 the instrument cluster came out :nice:

Also, thanks to 04Mach1 for coming by and basically doing the heater core swap. Mark came by and helped get the heater box out, core swapped, and the box reinstalled. All that's left now is finishing the dash and misc item re-install.

[93Cobra#2771]

:nice:

[QWKSNKE]

Car looks like it was in a wreck...


http://www.qwiksnake.com/SVO/heatercore.jpg

http://www.qwiksnake.com/SVO/heatercore2.jpg

http://www.qwiksnake.com/SVO/heatercore3.jpg

[EZ SPEED]

:yup: Yes it does

[Dale McPeters]

:yup:
Glad you guy's got it finished up Lee.

[Craig K.]

Lee, could you disconnect the cable on the tranny, then push it in at the firewall to give you more slack on the inside of the car?

Crap just read above, I am at my in-laws on dial up and it took forever to load the second page.

Glad it's going in the right direction now!!!

[streetstang88]

holy s**t. you gotta do all that to get to the heater core !!!!!!!!
if it werent winter i would bypass mine ...

[QWKSNKE]

04 Mach 1 works at J'ville Muffler and can do it pretty quicky if you want to get with him on labor :nice:

[93Cobra#2771]

holy s**t. you gotta do all that to get to the heater core !!!!!!!!
if it werent winter i would bypass mine ...


Yep. I believe most shop manuals have it set at 8-12 hour job. Course, if you've done it before you can do it in about half that time.

[streetstang88]

might do that

[Dale McPeters]

might do that

What ever you do don't let Richard (93Cobra#2771) get near
it or it will be full of walnuts!!!!
For more info see his location...............:lol:

[streetstang88]

i know weve had this discussion haha

[04 Mach1]

:nice:

[86GT]

I have an 86 and never spent that kind of time on the Heater core. Mine took about three hours. This was including the evac of the A/C. The das does not have to come apart as much as the pic above.

[QWKSNKE]

I have an 86 and never spent that kind of time on the Heater core. Mine took about three hours. This was including the evac of the A/C. The das does not have to come apart as much as the pic above.

Really? How do you get to the 2 metal brackets that hold the heater box in without removing the dash?

[86GT]

The fan assembly comes out with two bolts and one threaded 8 mm screw. After the A/C is drained and disconnected then it is just a matter of a few more screws and pulling back of the carpet to get the heater box out. The brackets that you speak of are not on mine. If the SVO is different then I am not sure but I believe it is the same.

I have heard of people cutting a plastic window into the heater box so that the heater core slides out with no efferort. I do not like this idea but it is possible.

I wish I was there to help.

[Craig K.]

86GT
Was your car an original A/C car?
If it was fitted at the dealer, as was my 85 GT, then you have the non-A/C heater box, I am able to change the heater core in my 85 in about an hour or so.

[86GT]

yes mine is a factory A/C car not a delear installed.