I have a 1992 E-150 with a leaking heater core. I need to know how difficult the job is. Is it a do it yourself type of thing? The shop wants $225. and I just hate paying if it's something that can be done at home.
Thanks in advance for any help you all can give me.

 

If it is anything like a 1991 and under, pretty easy, just time consuming removing the battery and such.

 

I did this on my 1988, which I assume is really similar (actually I've done it twice after getting one core that had a leak). It's not hard at all with the exception of getting the modular water hose plugs to seat correctly on the napa core I bought. If you're comfortable working in the top part of the engine and in the passenger side footwell, I'd say $40 at your local parts store and a couple hours of work and you're all set You will probbly need to partially drain the coolant system so nothing flows out on you or your carpet/engine/alternator while you have things opened-up, so have some extra anti-freeze mix on hand.

One word of advice, stock up on small part adapters for your socket set, etc. The hex bolts attaching the core housing to the inside of the firewall are tricky to reach and much easier to work on with some well-chosen adapter bits.

 

'92 and up are different than the earlier pre '92 body style. 92+ have the battery on the driver's side. Its a pretty easy job and takes only about an hour to do.

The biggest problem is getting the hoses off the heater core tubes. '92+ use the stupid hose couplers that snap into place and require a special tool to remove them. I tried this without the tool and gave up. I bought one from Matco. The hose couplers are located just in front of the firewall right beside the AC box. Once the hoses are released you go inside the passenger footwell and there are two plastic panels that come off with about a dozen fasteners and then the core pulls out.

One note. I bought a replacement core from a parts house for something like $29 or $39 and it did such a lousy job of producing heat (the air was bearly warm) that I had to pull it back out and buy an OE unit from Ford. Can't remember what I paid for the Ford unit.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

Clubwagon,you hit the nail on the head. I experienced the same thing,only I cut off the connectors with a hacksaw blade. Piece of cake once I got the hoses off. Thanks for replying.

I would like to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.