Heater core cleaning/removal?

[Zack1978]

Hey everyone,
My 60 is going to the shop on Wednesday for a new thermostat and a few other trhings. I think the o-ring is off the current thermostat, so my heat output has been limited. Once it is put back together, with the O-ring I will see what the heat output is like. If it is not much better, I guess the heater core is the culpret. So how do I remove it? Replace it? Or clean it? Does it have to come out of the truck to clean it?

Thanks,
Zack

 

[Weaver]

you can leave it in i'm sure and do a flush. i took mine out as i wanted to get it pressure tested and cleaned really well profesionally at the radiator shop. i had replaced the tstat, stuck on the oring it was missing, had the radiator flushed and tested, and i still had no heat. the heater core was not fun to take out but i knew it was the culprit so figured i might as well do it right. gotta take the whole dash out, lose your ac freon, take out about 40 assorted nuts and bolts, and quite possibly get custom with a hose or two to make the reassembly go a little smoother. i could do it again much faster and with better direction but, i never plan on doing that again, it was a thoroughly unenjoyable experience. motor rebuilds are fun in comparison. but the heat does blow kinda warm now

 

[KLF]

Pulling the heater core out of a 60/62 is probably one of the worst jobs ever to have to do. The entire dash has to come apart, everything.

Clean it with it still in the truck, it can be done.

Or sell the truck.

 

[Zack1978]

So what are the steps of cleaning it in the truck?

Thanks,
Zack

 

[soggy60]

Ya talken bout cleaning the 'inside' of the heater core ? or the outside of the heater (fins, etc).

Inside of core: with hoses, etc disconnected, fill core as best as possible with vinegar, let set 2 hours, flush, flush, flush....( you can use other 'radiator cleaners, just pour in & let set some minutes or so).

Check heater control valve, although it may seem to stroke open-closed, the innards may have goop restricting water flow....

Outside ( e.g., fins loaded with dust, fuzz, etc) : not much you can do....

 

[Nedshead]

Try all the other fixes first - cause replacing that core is a major pain. If you do end up replacing the heater core it takes some time but is well worth it if you live in a cold climate. A friend and I did both of ours in a day. You can replace it (on a 60 anyway) without removing or discharging the A/C. The heater and A/C boxes can be separated and you can remove the Heater side by itself. I've read alot of posts that say this can't be done - it can - i've done three like this. You MUST remove the entire dash to do this and also remove the entire heater box. Just alot of nuts and bolts and screws and stuff. You may also want to connect the new heater core by some other method than originally. The original way uses O-rings and a clip - these are prone to fail. I soldered the first one I did together - the last ones didn't seem to want to solder so we ground the flanges off and connected them using heater hose and clamps. That seems to be working well so far. Plan on a whole day at least if you have to do this. It's real nice to have hot air blowing instead of that luke warm bull@^%. - Hope you can get it working by flushing alone.

 

[bridges]

It's rare to see a job on here people say to try and avoid. Seems like a spring over is less work.


Bummed to find this thread in a search, guess it's time to try the flush tricks and if not successful set aside a day for the replacement and break out the manuals.

I'm getting cold air only and an intensely short blast of almost warm air every now and then just before my electric radiator fan kicks on. (highest point in my temperature curve). Sounds like you guys were getting some heat so I think the flushing is a waste of time, but I am a trial and error junkie.

 

[EarthX]

I did mine just a few weeks back and to me it didn't seem very hard. I thought it was fairly straight forward. Also, my air blows twice if not three times as hard as it did. The fins were so full of crap i don't know how any air got through. Oh yeah, the heat in my 60 works better than any car I've ever been in.

 

[Spook50]

I did mine just a few weeks back and to me it didn't seem very hard. I thought it was fairly straight forward. Also, my air blows twice if not three times as hard as it did. The fins were so full of crap i don't know how any air got through. Oh yeah, the heat in my 60 works better than any car I've ever been in.

That's exactly what I think is wrong with mine. It sucks to not have a filter of some sort for the cabin air. I need to pony up the money to buy a new OEM front blower motor so I'll probably order a new heater core at the same time and just replace the damn thing. I don't want to tear in there with the intent of cleaning it, only to find it so boogered up that it needs to be replaced. I figure the original one has lasted almost 20 years, so I got my money's worth out of it.

Anyone have any pics for reference in getting to the heater core? I'm sure someone who's done it has it figured to a procedure that would greatly reduce the amount of asspain.

 

[EarthX]

That's exactly what I think is wrong with mine. It sucks to not have a filter of some sort for the cabin air. I need to pony up the money to buy a new OEM front blower motor so I'll probably order a new heater core at the same time and just replace the damn thing. I don't want to tear in there with the intent of cleaning it, only to find it so boogered up that it needs to be replaced. I figure the original one has lasted almost 20 years, so I got my money's worth out of it.

Anyone have any pics for reference in getting to the heater core? I'm sure someone who's done it has it figured to a procedure that would greatly reduce the amount of asspain.

Sorry man, I really wish I had photographed it when I did it. I think its a good idea to buy a new core, its tough to get clean and the fins are very fragile.

 

[2damslow]

I cleaned mine in my 60 without removing it. Just bypass the core totally with a 5/8 hose, run down to the car wash with a fist full of quarters, and blast the pressure rinse in the return side of the heater hose. That will blow all the crap out of the core. I was gonna replace my core, but I figured I'd blast it first. Then if it ruptured, who cares? I was gonna replace it anyway...
Been two years since I did that and it works great. I even did the rear heater the same way, just blast the return hose coming from it too. You should a seen the crap that came out! Looked like coffee.

 

[Godwin]

To do the job thoroughly is a huge pain. It's not just the heater core that's involved but all the duct work under the dash between the heater core and the outside vents. There's the space in the front cowling where leaves and sticks and dirt can be trapped and while there is a screen to stop the big stuff, small junk can filter through. The underdash AC unit can get clogged and impede air flow, so that needs to be cleaned.

Disconnecting all the pull cables can be tricky, well actually it's the reassembly that can be tricky. There are some small metal tabs that are easily broken that hold the cables. Removing and reinstalling those is the tricky part. Don't know if they're availble individually or not.

But once out you can do a cheap muriatic acid flush on the heater core.

Reassembly is the opposite of dissassmbly - if you can remember where all the small parts go.

 

[Weaver]

i scrubbed the inside of all the ducting when i was in there too, it was caked with dust and all other kinds of old "stuff". got rid of the old car smell pretty well, definately recommend that if you're tearing in to it anyways. replacing ain't a bad idea. then just keep the old one and get it flushed and pressure tested and keep it as a spare. i think the radiator shop charged me 8 bucks or something for that

 

[Spook50]

To do the job thoroughly is a huge pain. It's not just the heater core that's involved but all the duct work under the dash between the heater core and the outside vents. There's the space in the front cowling where leaves and sticks and dirt can be trapped and while there is a screen to stop the big stuff, small junk can filter through. The underdash AC unit can get clogged and impede air flow, so that needs to be cleaned.

Disconnecting all the pull cables can be tricky, well actually it's the reassembly that can be tricky. There are some small metal tabs that are easily broken that hold the cables. Removing and reinstalling those is the tricky part. Don't know if they're availble individually or not.

But once out you can do a cheap muriatic acid flush on the heater core.

Reassembly is the opposite of dissassmbly - if you can remember where all the small parts go.

Were you able to do it without disconnecting the A/C evaporator?

 

[Winslow]

I tried the flush on my 60 about three years ago and was unsucsessful. I live in an area where you definately want the heat to work(jackson hole). I ended up replacing the heater core and most of the hoses. Everything was mucked up and corroded. It took about two days. Taking the dash apart, working upside down, etc, it was a real PITA, but I did get through it. I see to recall the core was about $500.00. Anyhow, I'm glad I did it- I can't imagine what that would cost at a repair shop.

 

[Godwin]

The AC? Just yanked it all out. I don't need it even though I live in the SE US and would rather use the underhood space for OBA.

 

[Nedshead]

I took a ton of pics when I did the last one a few months back. I can post some tonight. You can do it without removing or disconnecting the AC evaporator. You want to be careful with the control cables as the clips can be broken easily. I broke one on the last core replacement and was able to secure the cable with a small hose clamp - better than new (I think I have a pic of that maybe). Dropping the Steering column was also a bit of a pain IIRC. I'll post more later.
John

 

[Spook50]

...Dropping the Steering column was also a bit of a pain IIRC. I'll post more later.
John

Wow I guess people are serious when they say the WHOLE dash has to come apart. Jeez I didn't think it'd be that bad. I figured everything on the underside, including the ductwork over the center console, but not the entire schmear.

Thx in advance for the pics though

 

[Spook50]

Something to add anyone's evaporator is all stopped up from gunk and crap on the fins. Since the fins are so fragile, protect everything around it, then spray it all out with some carb cleaner. I did that with my condenser and radiator and it worked like a champ. Got rid of all the dead bugs (even found the remains of what looked to be a sparrow, gross), dirt, and road grime that had built up over the years. No scrubbing required.

I plan to do this when I change out my heater core, but since I'll have my A/C open at the same time, I'll probably just pull the evaporator out completely and clean it in a well ventilated area.

 

[Wayzata]

Cardboard, fellas, Cardboard! Put it in front of the radiator and you will have plenty of heat! Watch the temp guage on those warm days!