Heater core replacement
 

Hello Gents,
I signed up to get some advice on replacing heater core in my 1970 F-250 with integral a/c. I've read all the posts concerning this operation and found them to be quite helpful. And yes, I can see it is a big job.
So far I have located the four monting bolts, removed them and now the unit is hanging free. I also removed glove box and door for access. I can see numerous wires, cables and hoses. Speaking of hoses, I can reach behind the unit and feel where they connect with radiator clamps. But I can't see them.
I thought maybe the front face of the unit would come off to allow access to core and undid screws surronding same but it doesn't want to budge. So I'm stuck. Does the entire unit have to be remove by tilting it forward to remove it? If so, how do I reach heater hoses to disconnect? Thanks.

John In Colorado

Heater core replacement, part II
 

Hello again,

OK, it's been about 2 hours since my first post and I've been able to just about free the a/c unit from the dash. I cut the heater hoses to facilitate but I was going to replace those anyway. They are standard hoses attached with radiator clamps. The only things attached to unit are a few wires and cables but enough slack in both to allow unit to rest on floor.

But how in the world to I get to the core? I thought I could pry off the front of the unit but no luck. Any help is greatly appreciated!

John in Colorado

John, if your problem is just the two heater hoses that feed through the firewall, cut them, pull the unit, replace the core and put on new hoses. Feed them through the holes and reconnect to the water pump.
Don't reuse the old hoses.

Heater core replacement, part II
 

Hello John, thanks for taking time to reply. Yes, I did that (see my 2nd post, "part II"). The unit is now resting on the floor of the cab, a few wires and cables still attached. But how do you remove the core? I can see it inside but how do you get to it? Your help is appreciated.

John in Colorado

It's been a few years since I did one of these, but I think there are tow or three screws both top and bottom holding a plate on the firewall side of the box. Remove this plate, and the heater core should be visible. I can't remember if it also has a screw retaining it or if it's retained by the plate, but that should be obvious once you have the plate off.

Peeps confuse factory A/C with dealer installed A/C. Both are "hang-on" units, bolt to the bottom of the dash.

Factory installed Integral A/C is combined with the heater, the A/C controls are in the same panel as the heater controls.

There are two glove boxes, the dash glove box liner is very short because the expansion valve mounts behind it, so there is another glove box within the bezel.

Behind the dash bezel is the evaporator, behind that is the heater core. The heater plenum chamber that these two part are located in is two pieces. The inner section bolts to the outer bezel.

A pic is worth a 1000 words...the whole tamale is shown here in an exploded view: 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog-Illustration Section 195, page 5.

This catalog is available on a CD from hipoparts.com.

Heater core replacement
 

Hello again, gents:

After 5 or 6 hours of labor (I lost count) core is out. And Bill, you were right. It is a lot more than removing 4 bolts: like hoses, cables, wiring and a gazillion screws. Thanks to you and the others that chimed in. Hopefully reassembly will be a bit easier since a/c will not be reconnected (freon long gone). I ordered shaping coils to provide for the 90 degree bends in the hoses. All in all its a big project!

John in Colorado