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Author
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Topic: Replacing '67 Heater core in A/C car?
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nickmobile67
Gearhead Posts: 200
From: NJ
Registered: May 2003
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posted 12-27-2005 05:34 PM
 
I know this is gonna be a scary job. Can I tackle it myself? The car has air conditioning and a console to make it that much worse. The air works too, so I can't disconnect the lines to the evaporator in the car. I hope I'll be able to get some heat out of this thing with a new core...
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 29200
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 12-27-2005 05:37 PM
Better you than me. 
The only thing that could make this job any tougher is if it's a big block car.  Don't get me wrong, it is very do-able in your driveway, just tedious and time consuming. ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First NHRA & IHRA 289 automatic Superstock Mustang in the TENS 06-99
First SS/MA in the TENS 04-03
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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rmousir
Gearhead Posts: 1124
From: Amelia, Ohio
Registered: May 2003
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posted 12-27-2005 06:33 PM
I have done it a couple of times now. Didn't have the ac to worry about but I don't think it is that hard. I am sure that if you take your time you will be fine. The box should come out pretty easy.
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nickmobile67
Gearhead Posts: 200
From: NJ
Registered: May 2003
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posted 12-27-2005 09:06 PM
Yea, no air would make it a LOT easier. My Ford service manual shows 27 steps to removal And the second one is discharge the refrigerant  I'm very tempted to take it to my friendly local garage. They've been around and have a bunch of old guys that I actually trust with my car. About the only thing I ever have done is front end allignments though, the rest I usually tackle myself. On the other hand, I've been putting this off for about 2 years now, I think about it in the summer but I don't do anything about it, it's only this time of year I wish my heater worked!
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Scott H
Gearhead Posts: 1480
From: Chicago area
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 12-27-2005 10:56 PM
Getting that combination a/c and heater box out from under the dashboard has got to be on eof the worst possible jobs to do on a 67. Like Alex said, better you than me! LOL 
The only thing that could possible make it worse is if you have a console....oops! too late! I see you've got one of those also!You can do it, but it will take take time and patience. Follow the guidelines in the manual. See if you can have a shop discharge and then recharge the ac portion so you can work on the heater portion.
If you have a local shop do the job, I'm sure they'll just throw in a new heater core, but really you should pull the box out and replace all the little foam seals that have disintegrated over time. It will make both the AC and the heat work a lot better. Its a tough enough job that makes it worth doing it only once and doing it right. Good Luck!
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68 S-code GT
Gearhead Posts: 3835
From: Sayreville, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 12-28-2005 07:35 AM
Like Scott said,You could have the shop discharge the system and then you can pull the unit out and you really should replace those seals. It would be a shame to replace the core and not replace those old seals. It’s not all that scary but it is a pain in the A$$! I’ve done this a few times and it really is just a PITA!
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Ed S. 68 S-code FB GT 4spd(now C6)/3.25 PS PDB
68 J-code(now 289) Cp Sprint"B" C4/3L00-9" PDB PS AC Bla-Bla-Bla
99 F150 XLT Ext/cab, 4X4, 5.4L, 3L55
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John Z
Gearhead Posts: 506
From: Morgantown, WV
Registered: Jul 99
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posted 12-28-2005 11:15 AM
A long time ago I changed a heater core in a 67 AC car by splitting the box under the dash. Never removed the ac parts. IIRC there was only one clip that I could not replace. Worked fine afterward.
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nickmobile67
Gearhead Posts: 200
From: NJ
Registered: May 2003
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posted 12-28-2005 08:14 PM
I heard someone else say you could just remove the bottom of the box and pull the core out. I might try that. Would the console still be in the way? Are there clips on the firewall side, will I be able to get them off and reinstall them? I would like to change those seals, would I be able to do that with the top of the box still in the car? When I bought the car about 6 years ago the guy said he put a new heater core in it, and the a/c didn't work at the time. The heat was never great, but I don't think the core was really bad until now. At least with the A/C heater box there's a drain hose for condensation, so antifreeze doesn't go all over my carpet.
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 3969
From: Va Beach
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 12-28-2005 10:23 PM
Its not too hard to take out a console, so don't worry about that aspect of it.I'll throw on to have a shop discharge the freon for you and just rebuild the box. If the a/c isn't working, you may also want to have them pressure check your system first, now would be the time to change out the evaporator too if its bad, as well as the seals as already recommended. Almost your entire a/c system is run by vacuum motors, with the box out you can hook up a handheld vacuum pump to each little vacuum motor to check that it works and also check to see if your vacuum lines are in good shape. Good luck with it.
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68 S-code GT
Gearhead Posts: 3835
From: Sayreville, NJ, US
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 12-29-2005 08:56 AM
Well if you want to replace the seals then you have to remove the box so you can get at all of them. With the console out you will have some more access to the already limited space under the dash. You will also have to loosen the blower part of the setup in order to get the box out so the console will have to come out.
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Fastback68
Gearhead Posts: 4511
From: Sucat, Paranaque, Philippines
Registered: Jul 99
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posted 12-29-2005 09:56 AM
You're going to remove the seat first, right? OK, so it's not as bad as working under the steering wheel, but you can still get stuck and have to be removed by a fire crew.
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 8198
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 12-29-2005 04:56 PM
And removing the steering wheel is also good.This repair is a chain reaction deal of "why you're at it". Why you're at it, check out the cowls, and the vacuum motors, and the vacuum lines, and the wiring, and the radio speaker.........Because........if you plan on keeping the car for any length of time, you'll only want to make this "visit" once! At this moment, am making a choice of which AC to use on my 68 Cvt, and whether to install the indash AC that came with the car when new. The wiring has been changed and all connections circuit tested, checked and sprayed with a Radio Shak Contact Cleaner spray, fuse box serviced, all grounds are good-on bare metal.New Ford ignition, turnsignal, light switch. The dual speaker is new, and the cowls??? Made a mess in the garage by pouring water in the cowls. They have never leaked and have been "serviced with paint and undercoat. But still....did this 2 years ago and it was fine. Buying car back, even though it sat in a hanger for 2 years, still want to make this the last "visit"! Sprayed the w/s with moderate pressure and got underneath with a light to look for leaks! 67/8 underdash area should be "no man's land"! LOL! Finally.....went to a sign co. and had two magnetic cowl covers made to put over the vents when car is not in use, should it rain. Made a template of manila folder and took it in. 7 bucks....cheap enough. Re the heater/ac box....Few years back, redid the heater box and had the evaporator pressure tested along with new heater core. The paranoia attached to this prob means retesting the heater core as it is probably made in India or whatever. Also: new firewall blanket with foil backing. 'Cuse the long post but cannot say enough about this area on an otherwise super neat car. BTW: Has anyone installed white backgrounds on the guages? New bulbs, reflectors and the idiotic constant voltage reg. Speedo cable serviced also. This baby has been off the road for years! [This message has been edited by mellowyellow (edited 12-29-2005).]
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