Heater not very hot??
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
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Heater not very hot??
I have a 79 sb with a 302 and now that were going into winter I've had to use the heater but it does not get hot hot like my other vehicles. I also had another 79 with a six last winter and it had a new radiator, heater core and it was the same way. Is this normal for these trucks? What can I do to stay cozy warm this winter?? My plans for this weekend is to have the original rad. boiled out and to get a new heater core so maybe that will help???? Or what if instead of a standard heater core to get the extreme heater core? Will it fit with no mods??
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
Do you have a clutched fan or a straight fan? Look at the fan on the engine, is there a thermal clutch (big aluminum disk with fins attached to the fan) or is it just a spacer and fan bolted to the water pump? If it's the latter you can try putting some cardboard in front of the radiator to restrict the air flow. Does the heat come and go with the thermostat opening? You may also have a plugged heater core.
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Elder User
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I have a straight fan with no clutch, I would try the cardboard but the temp gauge already runs to the hot side. I have a new water pump, thermostat (195) and the system has been flushed. It was very dirty....The heat stays the same it's just not very hot..
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
That sounds like a plugged up heater core. Take a garden hose and cut the end off it, un hook the heater hoses from the core, and back flush it. Hook the garden hose to the bottom pipe on the heater core and see how much crap you can get to come out. It might help for a bit until you can get a new heater core.
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Elder User
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Could be?? If you feel the heater hoses they are extremely hot like the rad. hoses. so something is not doing there job... So if the system is working properly working I should have the hot heat I'm looking for right??
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
Check the blend door, make sure it's moving. I had this problem after putting a new heater core in a '82 E350, the blend door got bound up when I reinstalled. I had to grab the lever on the top of the box and move it manually to free it up. Then I had all the heat in the world.
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Elder User
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Actually I had the whole heater box assembly out a few months back restoring it and ******* me did not replace the heater core. The blend door and temp door operate very smoothly.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
So did mine, it just wasn't going all the way to the "hot" side. Once we moved it there manually once it worked fine.
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MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Sounds like the heater core is gummed up, especially since that's the only thing you haven't serviced. When I flushed my system last winter, I back flushed the heater core and it was so full of crud that I'm surprised it let anything through it at all.
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Elder User
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Huh.... time to replace it then.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
If it's not leaking, you don't need to replace it, probably just back flush it. When I back flushed mine (hooked up a garden hose and ran water flow the opposite direction), it looked like it literally took a giant number 2 out the other side, for lack of a better expression.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
When factory installed A/C is present, there's a heater water valve in the system, which is vacuum operated and notorious for rusting shut, or partially shut.
It splices into the heater hose, passenger side rear of the engine.
D4AZ18495A .. Heater Water Valve (Motorcraft YG136)
MSRP: $28.72 / FTEpartsguy.com price: $17.23
It splices into the heater hose, passenger side rear of the engine.
D4AZ18495A .. Heater Water Valve (Motorcraft YG136)
MSRP: $28.72 / FTEpartsguy.com price: $17.23
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Elder User
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Well at the time I was on a budget, I know lame excuse yes I regret doing it then and no the truck does not have AC