Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: The final straw on the Sport... (Read 2382 times) previous topic - next topic

The final straw on the Sport...

Check this gem out. Some ass of a shop cut the firewall out to change the heater core, and it looks like they copper-brazed the chunk back in. This poor, poor car. If I had paid a shop to do the heater core, and THIS is what came back, I'd own the  shop after a lawsuit. This is ridiculous! I was showing it to a neighbor who used to work for the DOL out here in Washington, he said the car would have failed inspection and had the title branded as non-street legal. I can't believe somebody got away with this...

Oh well, it's given up it's organs to keep other TBird's on the road and has now been recycled. Can't save them all :(

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #1 –
didnt even try to hide it did they
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1974 maverick lsx powered turbo car SOLD
1973 maverick Tijuana Taxi Tribute
1957 chevy LSX Turbo project (race car)
Owner of Joe Dirt Fabrication

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #2 –
Mike,that pic shows the line with the dryer.You have that and the others I need,still,right?i haven't heard from you,did you get my payment and note?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #3 –
By the way,Ford should've designed a panel there just for removing the eater core.The '77 through '79 T-Birds and Cougars had a panel under the hood,remove a few self tapping screws,remove the little panel,and pull out the heater core.You can change one in about 5 minutes....literally.If one had a spare car to get the metal from,perhaps fabbing a hole and panel for that purpose for our cars could work.I don't see how that could fail you in an inspection,though.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #4 –
That looks like lazy previous owner work.

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #5 –
I agree.I don'th think a shop,even some py ones,would do THAT kind of blatant junk.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #6 –
Check out some Econoline vans and you'll see a good portion of them have had their heater cores changed the same way.
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #7 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;207319
By the way,Ford should've designed a panel there just for removing the eater core.The '77 through '79 T-Birds and Cougars had a panel under the hood,remove a few self tapping screws,remove the little panel,and pull out the heater core.You can change one in about 5 minutes....literally.


It was my plan to go this route myself, if and when my heater core ever went again. I had to pay a shop for 8hrs labour when I had it changed the first time. So yeah, a removable panel is a great idea. A hack job and some glorified soldering is a poor idea.

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #8 –
It's really not that hard to do the right way by pulling the dash out far enough to get to it. It's just time consuming and tedious. PITA: yes; HARD: no... Hell, I'd rather change a heater core than swap a lower intake manifold or change a clutch.

Cutting out a section of firewall to get to the heater core is akin to breaking off the wheel studs to change a tire:hick:
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
86 5.0 Turbocoupe (Katrina), 87 5.0 Sport (Rita)

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #9 –
If you say so. Removing the dash to replace a heater core is akin to removing my nose to shave my face.

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Dogcharmer;207437
It's really not that hard to do the right way by pulling the dash out far enough to get to it. It's just time consuming and tedious. PITA: yes; HARD: no... Hell, I'd rather change a heater core than swap a lower intake manifold or change a clutch.

Cutting out a section of firewall to get to the heater core is akin to breaking off the wheel studs to change a tire:hick:



I agree...The first time I changed out a heater core in a fox bird it had to be the most frustrating car related work I have ever done. I cussed the design engineers every which way.

Now I know where the "hidden" bolts are and can get one pulled out just enough to get the access panel off the top and pull the core out.

Still a pain in the a@* to get to tho.
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #11 –
I did the heater core the correct way the first time in under 3 hours, start-to-finish. It's not that hard guys. Try stuff like changing the rear plugs on V6 SHO or changing an AMC cam in-car.

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #12 –
I can change an intake in short order.That's a 30 minute job,wicked easy.I did the heater core the first time in about 8 hours.The second time,about 6 hours,last time,which was the first for the Sport,it took about an hour.Eric gave me some VERY good helpful tips which made the last swap a breeze.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #13 –
You DO NOT have to remove the dash.  You have to move it back, not take it out completely;)
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

The final straw on the Sport...

Reply #14 –
There were some cars when they cut a hole in the wheel well to change spark plugs.