heater core

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 24, 2004 | 09:46 PM

jd4430

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 22

Likes: 0

heater core

can nybody tell me the easiest way to replace the heater core in my 1978 F-150 4x4

your help would be greatly appriciated

Dec 24, 2004 | 11:11 PM

460me

More Turbo

Joined: Nov 2003

Posts: 748

Likes: 28

Look here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...es_Trucks.html

Dec 27, 2004 | 10:58 AM

73Custom

Postmaster

Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 2,838

Likes: 6

From: SD

Does it have factory a/c or not? That changes everything.

Marty

Dec 27, 2004 | 11:26 AM

davefj40

New User

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 15

Likes: 0

From: northeast maryland

my 79 SC has factory ac and a bad heater core. how much more trouble does that add to the equation? where's the best place to get a new core?

dave

Dec 27, 2004 | 02:53 PM

Hardcore4x4er

Junior User

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 58

Likes: 0

took me about 6 hours to change the heater core in my 79 f250 with factory ac. Got my core at kragens for forty bucks and there was no core charge

Dec 27, 2004 | 03:45 PM

highboy1975

Cargo Master

Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 2,110

Likes: 32

From: southwest pa

i bought my core at a place nearby me, cost me 20$ and without air it took about 1.5 hrs working slowly to get it changed.

Dec 27, 2004 | 05:33 PM

davefj40

New User

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 15

Likes: 0

From: northeast maryland

anything not listed in the tech forum i should look out for having factory ac?

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Verdad Gallardo

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Joe Kucinski

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Brett Foote

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

Pouria Savadkouei

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Brett Foote

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Joe Kucinski

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Michael S. Palmer

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Verdad Gallardo

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Joe Kucinski

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Brett Foote

Dec 27, 2004 | 06:48 PM

davefj40

New User

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 15

Likes: 0

From: northeast maryland

yea, my ac isn't charged right now so i don't mind taking the whole thing out anyway and maybe replacing some weatherstriping or such.

dave

Dec 28, 2004 | 07:06 AM

#10

Menroid

Mountain Pass

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 218

Likes: 0

From: S.E. Georgia

When I went into mine I changed out the blower motor also.

Dec 28, 2004 | 03:49 PM

#11

fordfury469

Elder User

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 769

Likes: 0

From: Idaho cda postfalls

is the factory ac under dash or outside the engine compartment

Dec 28, 2004 | 05:07 PM

#12

76supercab2

Postmaster

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 4,043

Likes: 4

engine compartment.

Dec 28, 2004 | 05:22 PM

#13

fordfury469

Elder User

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 769

Likes: 0

From: Idaho cda postfalls

oh yeah i remeber those days, the pickup i got now is under the dash i think its way easier. might as well replace what looks bad while your in there, im sure you dont want to tear it apart this winter.

Jan 1, 2005 | 10:40 AM

#14

toolz_not_toyz

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 137

Likes: 0

From: Washington

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd4430

can nybody tell me the easiest way to replace the heater core in my 1978 F-150 4x4

As others have mentioned the procedure is different depending upon if you have a/c or not. For non-a/c trucks you can get detailed instructions from a Haynes book, which is a worthy investment. It's probably covered in the shop manuals on Cd available here.

The job is basically a pain because you have to do the following:

1) drain your coolant
2) remove your glovebox liner
3) detach the heater control cables from the heat/vent box
4) remove the heater hoses from the firewall side
5) disconnect the blower motor from the firewall side
6) remove the nuts holding the heat/vent box to the firewall from the firewall side.
7) pull out the entire heat/vent box assy. from under the dashboard.
8) remove the heater core (mental note: it will still have some coolant in it)
9) replace the heater core (it will be pretty obvious how to go about that)
10) you SHOULD replace the blower motor at the same time just because.
11) reassembly is the reverse of the above.

And don't forget to refill your coolant.