my 87 tbird heater does not work, in fact the it was bypassed and i would like to fix it, how do i go about removing the old one from the car
take a demo saw and carefully cut a squair hole in the dash, and extract the core, then replace and reinstall dash piece. lol
there is a very good walk through on hear (http://"http://www.coolcats.net/tech/troubleshooting/heatercore.html")
take the advice in the coolcat page that Nate posted and buy a ford oem core. I bought a cheapy and had to do it all over again 2 years later
Um....just a word of advice...it may be possible that Ford discontinued the heater cores for our cars. I've had a few people report that although I haven't confirmed it personally. So take that for what it's worth...
i was told that the core was unavailable, but they have one for a mustang of the same year, will it fit into the tbird
A quick check on Rockauto.com shows the same part numbers for 87 T-birds (4,6,8) and 87 Mustangs (4,8). Could be wrong, so don't quote me.
Mustangs and T-Birds/Cougars did share most heater cores, yes. But if you have ATC it's a unique core (probably shared with a Mark VII).
As per Rockauto for a 1988 Thunderbird LX 5.0: Four seasons part # 94621. Same part # for a 1988 LSC. Also the same for a 5.0 equipped 1988 Mustang.
I've changed the heater core in my ATC equipped car twice (9 years......starting to change a FEW things the second time around:rolleyes: ) and neither time when ordering the core was I asked if the car was ATC or not. I simply told them it was for an 87 cougar V8. I've posted this diagram of the heater system in the past. It was pulled from the Ford parts counter when I changed my blower motor (about 1 week before the heater core went......in February.....) The diagram came up for an 87 Cougar. Note the lower left corner where it shows a part for Mustangs only.
I was referring to the dealership....there are (or at least there were) different part numbers for ATC and non-ATC. Whether or not they were truly physically different from each other, I can't say. But every time I've ordered one from the dealer they've asked me if I had ATC. It looks like pretty much all aftermarket cores carry the same part number for Fox cars with A/C.
Physically, the 2 I have put in look the same as the original factory installed on I pulled out. Not sure why the different part #'s from Ford. There are a couple of parts that are different of course.....the blower motor and the blower motor resistor.
Be wary of the blower motor for ATC cars. They are discontinued from Ford (or so I was told) and the aftermarket one requires some *ahem* massaging to work (read: you'll need a set of good tinsnips)
OK, I just called my hookup at the Ford dealer parts counter. Here is the news:
- Genuine Ford heater cores ARE still available new, in plentiful supply. List price is around $75 US. P/N E9LY-18476-A
- That is the only core P/N that Ford lists for the 1980-88 Cougar/T-Bird, and the Fox Mustang, because it supercedes all previous ones (that is a 1989 part number).
Now I don't know why, but when Zach replaced the heater core in his '86 XR7 a few months ago, he was told they were not available at the dealer anymore and he ended up getting "the last one" from Green Sales. This confused me. I'd like to know why his was so different...
^ That's the one I got when I did mine 1 1/2 years ago. $75 from Plaza Ford.
They never asked if I had ATC or not.
Wow. I'm amazed!
I was told by several independant dealerships that the heater cores were no longer available. I could hear 'em typing over the phone with the part number/car info, then I would get, "Nah... they discontinued it. Try aftermarket."
Even a Ford parts website told me the same thing (after I had placed an order for one).
Was there a giant "drop of the ball" with Ford/Motorcraft parts information?
You got me, Zach. That is pretty strange. According to my parts guy there are well over 100 of those cores in storage at the Ford warehouse in Detroit. So I don't know what to say, other than I can easily get one. What was the part number on yours?
Had the same problem getting new HID bulbs for 1996 Mark VIIIs. (it was a one year only bulb, only for LSCs) Since Ford is the only place to get these bulbs, people were starting to go bonkers...but after a few months they made a bunch more and dealers are beginning to stock them.
Probably the same story with these heater cores.
This might interest you guys.
http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=LRS-18476K%20%20%20%20%201&comp=LRS
I doubt that is a Motorcraft core. fastpartsnetwork has cores for $55. Two hoses are probably another $20. 4 nice SS claps will be another $4. They're selling $80 for $50...and LMR isn't known for being kind to the pocketbook.
PS I don't think their fan clutches are Motorcraft either.
I figured as much. I was just showing you can get one easy, even though it's a cheap one. Once the Motorcraft ones dry up where will we get a good quality replacement?
All the parts stores carrry the cheap cores (~$20).
So if my Motorcraft replacement one dies in another 9 years I and there are no more new Motorcraft ones I'm going to have to put a $20 parts store core in? Changing the core every two years is going to be fun:pbb:
well you know the thing is man made and things will break :sorry:
I'm sure Eric is ding some Motorcraft heater cores to sell (for a tidy profit) after the impending Heater Core Apocolypse™ :p
*Announcer Guy voice On*Heater Core Apocolypse™ coming to a driveway near YOU! *Announcer Guy Voice off*:grinno:
LOL! No, not ding...but if you have a spare $60 laying around, might not be a bad idea to get one now. I'm seriously thinking about it. We've never really had to worry about any mechanical parts not being made anymore, since a lot of things interchange with Mustangs and other Foxes. But this one...this one kinda concerns me a bit...
My '84 still has its original heater core. I guess some of them last forever.
I hope your '84 has some faux grain wood...'cause you need to knock on it now. ;)
Yeah, I was thinking I may have jinxed myself.
Oh God I have to run to the Ford dealer now! The end is near :grinno: