Heater Core

[Mike Bucher <mbucher@domain.elided>]

I used to have a 64 Falcon that always had heater problems in the fall.
The water circulated through it all year round.  The core would get full of
sludge/crud.

I installed two of the flush kit tee adapters that you hook your garden
hose to.  Take c-clamps or vice grips and squeeze off the heater hose on
the engine side of both adapters (put a rag or piece of rubber hose around
the heater hoses so you don't nick/cut them with the clamps.)  This will
isolate the heater core and keep the rest of the coolant in the engine &
radiator.   Hook a garden hose to one adapter and leave the cap off the
other adapter and flush the heater core.  Then reverse the hose and back
flush from the other side.  That will blow out any loose sludge/crud in
there.  

Worth a try before you pull the core.

Mike