That is really interesting. Maybe your truck had aftermarket or dealer installed AC, or maybe it is an early/late build. Mine is an AC truck, and like you said, mine is in the interior. I plan on getting a NAPA unit tomorrow. I will be sure to clarify AC, and also, I'm betting mine is a standard heater rather than the heavy duty heater. Maybe that is for the bigger cab trucks?? Mine is a standard cab.

 

IIRC the high-output heater was optionally available on all trucks, I believe it's merely a
slightly larger heater core (81-f-150-explorer knows for certain, he'll prolly correct me if
I'm wrong).

 

Here is what I have in my 1986 5.0L. I hope the links work.

Here is my control panel. I always thought it was odd there was just one position for AC, i.e. there is no "Max" and "Norm" or "recirculate."




Here is the box with the heater core and blower in the engine compartment.



Here is the AC compressor. I didn't see any markings/tags that said Ford or any other manufacturer.




I just assumed it was factory AC, but I don't know.

Rick

 

Yup. I've got (had) the same thing. Seems the local Ford dealer figured out that they could make a couple hundred dollars installing (the **** poor) dealer A/C themselves and make a few extra bucks.

 

He shouldn't, because you're dead on.

 

Congrats, it's dealer installed. Take care of the microswitch inside the control; it heats up and dies if the connection gets loose. It's part number E4TZ-19757-A.
Just curious- where do your A/C hoses enter the cab?

 

The AC hoses go through what looks like a factory hole in the firewall behind the air breather housing and directly in line below the wiper motor. I hadn't paid too much attention before, but yes it looks added on. The hoses go through a hole without any grommet or protection--the hoses are right against the metal edge of the hole. Below the hoses in the same hole are wires that I'm sure are factory. These wires all go through a rubber grommet that would have fit snugly in the hole if not for the AC hoses.

Rick

 

Yeah, Wyowanderer is correct, this is dealer-installed. Go to a junkyard and check out a
truck with factory-installed AC, look at the details of what components are installed where
and how and how things look and you'll then be able to recognize yours for what it is.

A dealer installing AC allows that dealer to satisfy consumer demand when the consumer
says to the dealer on the showroom floor, " I like this truck and would buy it if only it had air
conditioning." The dealer could install AC and have the truck ready for pickup the next day,
rather than the consumer having to go shopping around some more, or settling for what they
don't want, or waiting for a special-order truck to be built & delivered.

 

Thanks guys, you learn something new every day. I never thought about the AC not being factory. Except for how the hoses go through the firewall, it's a pretty slick job. I always thought added on AC mounted under the dash like an old 8-track tape player.

Rick

 

Got my heater core in today after work. NAPA had 3 options: with AC, without AC, and high output. They were all brass/copper, except for the one I needed (with AC), which was aluminum. I hope I got a good one.

I resealed my water outlet gasket, too. What were they thinking when they put the lower bolt 1/2" away from the back of the water pump? And, why does the t stat sit vertically instead of flat? Stupid.

 

I would think you'd want the one for trucks without AC, I don't think dealer-added AC
involved replacing the heater core at all. In any case, compare the replacement to the
original, I've read a lot on here about people's woes with replacement heater cores and how
they can be difficult to make fit.

 

No, my truck has factory AC, iwals' truck has the dealer installed AC. I know what you're talking about regarding the tight fit. My replacement was actually slightly differently shaped, and maybe a little bigger. With a little force it went right in, nice and tight.

I am happy with it, knock on wood. Now I need to move on to other things with the old truck. It has kind of been in the shadow of my '69 GTO I have been working on (poor truck), so now I am a little behind with it.