Could it be the heater core going bad and if so please let me know how hard it is to take out and replace. I have something that is leaking on my passenger side floorboard. Can't seem to figure out what it is and the other day I thought it might be the heater core. Not real sure any help would be appreciated.

Nolan

 

Does it smell like coolant in your cab? If it does than yea its prolly your heater core. I'm assuming this is in a 74. I've changed the one in my 75. its not too hard....kinda a bitch to wrestle some of the peices out but its nothin that you shouldn't be able to do.

 

Does it taste sweet ?

 

Pull back the carpet right under the heater core assembly (black box) and check the leak at that location. If it leaking real bad you should notice the color there. Antifreeze usually stains the carpet if it leaking or under the rubber vinyl carpet you should notice if its antifreeze.

Not good to be tasting antifreeze (it crystalizes in the kidneys). Smelling will work better. Also, Antifreeze has an oily feel.

 

Does the truck have A/C?

 

Windshields leak. The cowl sometimes rusts out and leaks water into the cab. The metal around the windshield can also spring a leak. A leaky heater core this time of year can fog the windows quickly with an evil slime.

 

you guys are the best even the guy that sugested I taste it to see if it is anti freeze. It has an oily feel and the carpet is black but it is darker were it has been leaked on. It sounds like I will be changing out the core. Were is the best place to find a new one and is there a tech article on how to do this. I do not have a/c. Thanks for all of your help.


Nolan

 

Heheheh !

I never told you to drink, just lick a little off your finger

You can get a replacement core practically anywhere.

I understand the company *Texas Cooling* has pretty good products.

Maybe buy it from one of FTE's sponsor sites ?

 

Just got through replacing the heater core on my son's '73 (no a/c). It was simple. Easy, easy, easy.

1. Disconnect the radiator hoses that feed the heater core. Think about some way to block them off quickly so you don't spill radiator liquids all over the place. You might also want to think of a way to plug the heater core so it doesn't leak any more into the cab of your truck.
2. Disconnect the two heater control cables inside the cab of the truck.
3. Release the ground wire for the fan motor from the firewall (look up 4" from fan).
4. Disconnect positive power from fan motor.
5. Three studs poke through the firewall with the nuts in the engine compartment. Two at the passenger side heater fan motor and one more near the center.
6. One last bolt hidden behind the glove box connecting to the passenger side of the cab.

Once these are released, you can wiggle out the plastic and replacing the heater core will be obvious. Give serious consideration to replacing the fan motor as long as you are in there.

Reverse the procedure to put it back together. I found it easier to have someone looking at the firewall from the engine side while wiggling around the studs to line it up when reinstalling. I suppose you could do it alone, maybe. I sought some assistance.

 

Here some additional information.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...re#post3065023
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...ht=heater+core

 

if it is leaking try the prestone stop leak, you can get it anywhere. I used it about a year ago but i flushed it the system before it got cold this year and i think the leak has started again only worse now. Im lookin to replace it now just waitin on the instructions on how to remove the dash assembly. peace

 

Stop leak settles and deposits in the engine cavities as will plug up you heater core and will settle in the radiator, thus reducing the cooling capacity of your engine and reducing the heating capacity of your heater core.
Always replace your any cooling and heating parts.