Argh... foxbody heater core

So, the heater core went out in the Mustang ('90 GT 'vert). NOT HAPPY. I've done two in foxbodies before, and it's a metric PITA. Booktime is something like 8-12 hours, so it's not even something I can say "screw it" and make the mechanic do.

So, I'm not sure what to do at this point. I have GOBS of money tied up into suspension in that car, which in hindsight probably wasn't too bright, as that thing's pretty much a rattle trap (more than even a normal foxbody).

I'm not really sure what my best option is here... I have lots of foxbody parts, and I know those cars inside and out.

I could fix it... but that leaves me with still having a rattletrap of a foxbody 'vert that realistically needs a new top and to have the convertible frame freshened up.

I can turn this thing into a race car, but then I lose my "fun" DD, and considering that I'd be turning it into a roadster at that point, it'll also have to live in the garage all winter and any day it might rain. It'd also lose any and all resalability, so when I'm done with it, off to the junkyard it would have to go.

I could pick up another foxbody... but if I do that I want a 'notchback, and those things fetch a premium.

I could pick up an SN95 5.0. I could swap almost all of my suspension over, I'd get disc brakes out back, slightly better geometry up front, and I could get a hardtop instead of that god-forsaken ragtop (which would probably net me some weight reduction, too, despite the increase in weight from the fox to the fox-4).

Or I could get out of fox-chassis cars entirely. Part of me wants to do this, as I know all the problems these cars have... but I'd also know how to FIX all those problems, have a bunch of the parts to do it, know the trick places to get parts from, etc, etc. If I do this, I'd want another RWD 2+2, and I'd like to be able to reuse my existing wheels (5x4.5 17x9s).

Hrm.

Is it a rattletrap because it's a 'vert or because it is a Fox body? Every Fox should have been built with real weld in subframe connectors, not that crappy glue and rivet 'vert setup.

As much as they suck, replace the core and enjoy. It is paid for.

I'll give you $100 since it sounds like a craptastic piece of junk ready for the scrapper.

I've got weld-in subframe connectors and an MM bolt-in 4-pt rollbar. The rattles are all interior stuff from the interior being replaced poorly by the DPO. All the more reason to gut it, right?

Heh, $100 wouldn't pay for ONE of my shocks

Fix the heater core & rattles. Fox body verts are not that bad & you will miss it.

Use this as inspiration, yes I know its sn-95 but that was redesigned fox platform.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzpDOFOvdek

Heh, I used to show that video to anyone who said a Mustang couldn't handle. But that makes me want another SN95, not to fix my fox! (I used to have a '98 Cobra).

I have to do the one on my 94 mustang. It is an all day job. Just get beverages of your preference and have at it.

I did read somewhere where some one cut the air box and removed the core with out removing the dash steering column etc. Then replaced the piece of plastic and glued it back in place with two part epoxy for plastic. Makes a 6-8 hour job a 2-4 hour job. I can not find the writeup anywhere. It had photos etc on where to cut.

Dean - that would be fantastic. I'd really prefer to not have to disassemble the entire dash, but I have ZERO qualms cutting that thing open.

When I changed the heater core in my SVO, there was a site that showed how to wedge the heater box open with an extension. It wound up taking me about 4 hours or so.

Heater cores aint that bad. Its not greasy and youre sitting down for most of it. Put on some tunes and rip into it.

Maybe you will be able to fix some of the rattles while you are at it.

Saw a bright blue 89 conv on an uber-cheesy curbstoner lot a couple weeks ago and was compelled to stop in. I had to chuckle when he told me how perfect it was at 165k miles and I popped the hood and there are the heater hoses tied together and not going to the core. Um, thanks but no......

I feel your pain, just did mine on the brick. Book is like 10 and it took me solid 7. Not fun. The good part about working with that is that if there are nearly impossible to reach screws holding plastic crap together, you can just skip them on reassembly. It's not like they're head bolts, they hold some stupid piece of plastic to some other stupid piece of plastic. Who cares if my feet will be 3% warmer on each setting before, it has heat now and I didn't waste hours of my life trying to thread that 7mm headed screw through the ductwork, over the foam connector, through the firewall, around the liver, down the small intestine and past the big bad wolf all of the way to it's hole.