Removing the heater core in a 1986 Thunderbird?

[Donna Foster]

Does anybody know if you have to remove the airconditioning in a 1986
Thunderbird in order to replace the heater core. It all seems to be
attactched. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank-you,Donna Foster

[applianceguy]

Yes, you do. I did it on my '84 which is the same body style. I did it for
the AC, tho. You must remove the dash, or, as I did, pull it as far away
from the front of the car as possible. Then the heat/AC plenum must come
out. Heater and AC must be disconnected for this. I thought about
replacing the heater core just as I was tightening the last screw with it
all back in place. I don't know if I would do it again or not...

Paul

" Donna Foster" <res0...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:nJI08.384$OP4.4...@paloalto-snr1.gtei.net...

[Donna Foster]

Thank-you for your information, yes it is quite the job to replace these
heater cores in this T-Bird and I also here that the heater cores are a
problem with repeatily going bad. I was also wondering since you have to
disconnect the a/c, will you have to get it recharged when you have
everything back together? And how much does freon go for now day's or can
you still even get it? Thank's again for any information on this. I just
bought this car and I don't really know to much about Fords. I have been
driving a Pontiac Grand Am 3.0 and Pontiac Grand Prix 2.8 but I bought this
86 T-Bird with V-8 - 302 5.0L from my daughter for 500.00 and other than
the heater core, the car is in real nice condition. Is there any other know
problems with this car? Thanks again everyone for your time, Donna
"applianceguy" <dv...@NOSPAM.appliance-world.com> wrote in message
news:u46ng4p...@corp.supernews.com...

[applianceguy]

I can't answer about the Freon cost - I had a stash from long ago. A proper
shop could recover the freon from the system and put it back in or at least
charge for a swap instead of a whole charge (I think). I have never
replaced the heater core (knocking loudly on wood). My AC core died and
blew the charge. I bought my '84 as a demo with 9k on it and now have 172k.
I still like it a lot. It has been a very reliable car and has cost me very
little to keep it up. I do most of the work myself but even at shop rates
it wouldn't have been bad. Road salt is beginning to leave a mark as well
as plain old weathering, it's not had a garage very much of it's life. I
prefer to drive it in winter over a couple of others I have access to - it
seems more sure-footed even tho it's rear wheel drive. I hope she likes it
and keeps it a long time.

Paul

" Donna Foster" <res0...@verizon.net> wrote in message

news:JrK08.513$OP4.5...@paloalto-snr1.gtei.net...

[Donna Foster]

Thanks Paul, your information was much appreciated and I will let you know
when he get's it put back together if everything turned out o.k. , that is
if he ever get's back to work on it, lol. Anyway, thank-you again. Donna

"applianceguy" <dv...@NOSPAM.appliance-world.com> wrote in message

news:u48mfh2...@corp.supernews.com...

[JamesLAJB]

A Chilton manual available at any auto parts store will tell you (show you) the
procedure for RR(remove and replace) of the heater core.

[Steve Fleckenstein]

From what I remember 8 years ago doing the heater core in my 85 t-bird..

pull car in garage..
disconnect battery..
blow off A/C ( the legal way of course)
pull off steering wheel
disconnect steering column mounts from dash, lay column in front seat.
take out cluster,
take out glove box, radio, heater controls, disc hoses, wires, ductwork,
etc.
remove mounting bolts between dash and firewall..
now you can start working on heater core area After you remove some more
stuff.
Two weeks of nights after long days at work got it done.
A pro can do it in 8 hours for serious money.

Steve

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"JamesLAJB" <jame...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020120204116...@mb-mf.aol.com...

[db...@sprynet.com]

The last one i did was on a 83 Mustang and yes it was with the air/cond
in the same heater box... too me two days, had to take off the dash,
drop the steering wheel column, remove the console between the front
seats, remove the heater hoses and then i unbolted the bolts that hold
the heater box(the whole plastic box) and pulled it down without
removing the air/cond. lines.. (the book stated the remove it) thought i
might be able to get it down a littel and then took clamps off the
heater box and pried it open and held it there with a short piece of
2 in by 4 in wood and pulled the heater core out..... put new one in and
put the box against the firewall and reinstalled everyting...
If had known it was this hard for this old car(I did it in 1991) i would
have just used the dremel tool and cut a NEW door for the heater core
and took it out and then patched it up with duct tape..... i had all the
shop manuals and it stated and showed for a NON air cond. car as having
a small panel that you unscrew to remove the heater core.. it was
located behind the glove box.... You think that ford would design
something that would not take 10 hrs. of shop time to fix......... they
still design the heater core install and removal the same way...

The reasson i did not want to mess with the a/c is that it was
working and the car was getting old and i knew if i messed the a/c up i
would never get th thing to hold a charge again... it lasted about 5
more years and i traded it in on a new car for my daughter.....
it served it purpose.

[Darvin Ricomo]

I know this is a bit of a late reponse to this issue, but I'm going to have
to replace my heater core before next winter swings around, and I guess my
question is does converting to R134 mean no replacing heater core, and where
can I find out the specifics on how to do it?

D'

<Jus...@xxx.org> wrote in message
news:44le4u4rc5iknm12t...@4ax.com...
> I would not put the old R-12 in it. You will pay BIG BUCKS!
>
> I highly recommend you make the conversion to R134 and will be a lot
> cheaper to maintain. I did my 88 T-Bird 5.0 for under $300.
>
> Bought a almost new A/C compressor at the junk yard for $35. Bought a
> brand new low pressure hose with canister and low pressure switch for
> $110. Got a conversion kit for $35 which contained new O-rings, lock
> springs, and oil. Bought 4 cans of R134 freon for $5 each. Bought a
> gallon of A/C system flush. Took all the hoses out and flushed them
> with the solution and high pressure air. Put everything back together
> with the new O-rings and oil. Put the pump on to create vacuum. Since
> I was in a hurry, waited for about 30mins and saw no change in the
> gauge, so it was sealed good. Put the freon it and if I set the A/C at
> the lowest 60 degrees, it gets down to 45 degrees.
>
> Good Luck!

[Sharon Cooke]

Replacing your heater core has nothing to do with converting your air
conditioner to R134A. You would replace the accumulator for the A/C. Get
a service manual from Helm, Inc.