[SD455DJ]

Got to work on the Formula gauges/tach and heater core swaps today. We needed to take the hood & hinges off to access the both the fuse block below the brake booster and the heater box nuts. Since we were replacing the non-gauge dash harness for one for gauges, we decided it would be easier to do that with the complete dashboard out of the car...not to mention, the removal of the inner heater box as well.

We discovered that the dash and everything underneath was never tampered with all it's life...and discovered interesting assembly 'techniques' as well. Of the 5 intended nuts needed to fasten the dash pad to the core, only 3 were installed and the other 2 had no witness marks of ever having nuts installed, both above the glove box. A couple of the red harness retainer clips were also MIA that hold the wire loom as it routes over the glove box and down the far side...plus the usual half way installed screws and nuts in a variety of places...very interesting to observe and imagine that these cars were assembled quickly and they didn't stop the line because you missed a few screws.

We have the new gauges installed in the dash and are routing the new harness in and around the maze of brackets and controls. The new (old original) dash harness has enough 'memory' in the wires that most of the connectors go where they need to be connected...making it pretty easy for us to figure out. Now we just have to find a new heater control cable (floor/de-ice) which is holding us up temporarily.

Looks like the dash was made by Uniroyal (in Canada) on 4-8-70. We're not sure what the 'B' or the '84/8' chalk mark means...?

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

The heater core was the original Harrison unit that was still in excellent shape. We are going to put the new copper-brass core we found in anyway, but are keeping the original for posterity. Interesting that the original core retaining clips are painted baby blue. There was an original inspection sticker on the heater box/housing too. No mouse nests either!

Dennis

[giles]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

The heater core was the original Harrison unit that was still in excellent shape.

If you can find a radiator shop that still recores stuff you might be able to get a new core for your Harrison end tank.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by giles

If you can find a radiator shop that still re-cores stuff you might be able to get a new core for your Harrison end tank.

A good friend told me about an old radiator repair shop in Ferndale, MI called Ferndale Radiator Repair that still rebuilds/re-cores old radiators and heater cores the old fashioned way. It's good to know a few still exist for our old cars. I do need to have the original 3-core radiator rebuild as it is plugged bad, so will probably take it down there this spring.

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

We got the new temp and oil pressure sending units installed (it was a real bugger getting the steel plug in the crossover out after 52 years...lots of PB Blaster & heat), along with the temp gauge jumper harness. The new dash harness is all but installed on the dash to be reinstalled this Friday. We also got the heater box with the new copper-brass heater core and replacement control cable back in. We might have working factory gauges this weekend!?!

Dennis

[Ramairnacho]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

We got the new temp and oil pressure sending units installed (it was a real bugger getting the steel plug in the crossover out after 52 years...lots of PB Blaster & heat), along with the temp gauge jumper harness. The new dash harness is all but installed on the dash to be reinstalled this Friday. We also got the heater box with the new copper-brass heater core and replacement control cable back in. We might have working factory gauges this weekend!?!

Dennis

Hi I'm Ignacio I'd like to ask my car has both sending units too on intake . Im.thinkimg drivers side is for water temp but what's the passenger side? My car is auto and original radiator broke long ago but have a non stock replacement. I bought a 70 esprit as a parts car and it has the original radiator cap and I'd tag and I believe it's a 4 row was wondering if original heater core is the brass copper one is it best to have it rebuilt along with radiator and who does those. I was referred to a man in Michigan for the radiator but unclear on heater core. Thank you

[SD455DJ]

Ignacio, The 3-prong sending unit on the passenger side is the original piece in the original location and is used for both gauge and non-gauge (idiot lights) applications. When you order gauges the driver side plug in the manifold is replaced by the temp sending unit and a jumper wire is added from the sender to the original passenger side electrical connector plug (directions show you where to plug it in).

As for radiator repair/recore shops, I would image they all recore heater cores as well, since they are just small radiators put together the same way as their big brothers...copper, brass, & solder. I was given the name of Ferndale Radiator Repair in Ferndale, MI for this work. I haven't used them yet, so I have no advice whether they are good or not, but my friend says they do good work.

If your Esprit has factory A/C then it should have had a 4-core radiator originally.

Dennis

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

A good friend told me about an old radiator repair shop in Ferndale, MI called Ferndale Radiator Repair that still rebuilds/re-cores old radiators and heater cores the old fashioned way. It's good to know a few still exist for our old cars. I do need to have the original 3-core radiator rebuild as it is plugged bad, so will probably take it down there this spring.

Dennis

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

Mike, I'll have to check...but I'm thinking since the radiator was gummed up pretty bad when we got it, it was a replacement and didn't have the original tags, or else we would have taken pictures of them...and I don't see any pics of the radiator we removed.

Dennis

I was just going by this other post. Thanks.

[SD455DJ]

Well, now I'm just going to have to check upstairs to see if I really do have it...lol! I wonder if I was confused with the original 4 core radiator in my '71 455HO Formula...?

Dennis

[SD455DJ]

We finally got the time (and the inspiration) to pull the RAIII 400 out of the Formula. It developed a slight bottom end knock when coming back from the 2022 TA Nationals and been parked since then. We spent yesterday pulling the engine (first time it’s been out of the engine bay since it left the Norwood assembly plant in late April of 1970). Instead of being down for another year, we decide to install another engine in temporarily, a 455HO from Dan’s engine stash. It been in several Pontiac A-body’s and was also in a 1971 T-37 that was raced at the Pure Stock Drags back around 2010 and was a participant in Pontiac Enthusiasts Magazines Pavement Pounders series where it went 12.50’s at 108 mph. It’s served duty in a ’71 Judge and GTO while their engines were out being rebuilt most recently.

The plan for the RAIII is to install forged rods & pistons, 1-piece stainless steel valves, bronze guides, new springs and retainers, poly-locks, etc. for durability. We’ll see if the original 068 ‘S’ cam & lifters are still good to be reused. If not, we’ll likely go with the Summit 2801 cam with Johnson Hylift hydraulic lifters. I’m going to keep the original RA exhaust manifolds on it in lieu of the oversized outlet units. We’ll be keeping the quench tight at .040” and the static compression ratio as low as possible, hopefully around 10.2 to 1. It should run well on 93 octane fuel with the proper timing curve and jetting. We will dyno the engine and post the results when that happens (this fall most likely). The build will be identical to the small valve XV code 400 in my ’70 Tempest with the only differences being the large valve #12 heads and the RA exhaust manifolds. That engine dyno’d at 385 hp/454 lb-ft torque, so we’re thinking 400+ hp/475 lb-ft should be attainable.

Dennis

[Transamric]

Originally Posted by SD455DJ

The heater core was the original Harrison unit that was still in excellent shape. We are going to put the new copper-brass core we found in anyway, but are keeping the original for posterity. Interesting that the original core retaining clips are painted baby blue.

Dennis

I see the heater core is dated March of '70. Likely never been touched before.

[SD455DJ]

Originally Posted by Transamric

I see the heater core is dated March of '70. Likely never been touched before.

It never was apart...everything was so stuck together that we really took our time pulling it apart to preserve as much of the original insulation as possible. The light stuff above the heater box just fell apart, so had to throw it away. Both halves of the heater box were pretty clean with only a few old leaves and dust balls inside to clean out.

Dennis