Evaporator coil remove/repair need video

[moretsky99]

Had a fire under the evaporator coil and mulling my options. My air conditioning was not working and will not be missed if I remove it all.
For sure I need to clean out underneath that area as that's where the fire was.
For months I had been hearing a slight rubbing noise when putting on the heater fan, still not sure if this is connected to this issue.

During the fire, I jimmied the plastic around the evaporator coil. That plastic is ruined on the passenger side from melting. I'm still not sure, but might have poked a hole in the coil as well when I was using the only tool available, a crowbar to get at the area to douse with water.

Can anyone point to a video or .... as to my options here including complete removal of the coil and whatever else would have to be removed.

Thanks,
Just looking for a little direction.

 

[SenorNoob]

If the 96 has the same AC/Heater box as earlier trucks, you could try to find one of these:

It's the outside portion of that box. Depending on how much damage there is, I'd probably cut up an old license plate or something to rivet over the holes. (A detergent bottle would probably work fine.)

Post up a couple pictures of what you're working with and we can advise further.

 

[moretsky99]

If the 96 has the same AC/Heater box as earlier trucks, you could try to find one of these:

It's the outside portion of that box. Depending on how much damage there is, I'd probably cut up an old license plate or something to rivet over the holes. (A detergent bottle would probably work fine.)

Post up a couple pictures of what you're working with and we can advise further.

Great timing. Just in from the garage where I was trying to remove the other side of this piece. I decided to just get rid of all the aircon parts. So this part will stay. I already removed the blower, but the dirt or whatever burned was not in the cavity. I think I'll have to remove the evaporator to get at the dirt underneath it. I'm confused about the water to the evaporator. From videos I've watched there's a separate radiator for the aircon. Is there a connect to the main radiator that I need to plug if I remove that aircon radiator? Another question, will I have to get a new belt if I remove the aircon pump or with the tensioner be able to make up the slack?
Thanks for the photo. An inspiration to try my hand at the same. Hope it looks OK. Here's the damage. Fire seemed to come from under the evaporator. I think I damaged the evaporator and so might as well get rid of it as I never use the aircon which didn't work anyhow.

 

[Curious Hound]

There is no water to the evaporator coil. It receives refrigerant from the compressor on the front of the engine. However, there is also a heating coil in the ductwork to provide heat when you need it. It gets its heat from the engine coolant - 2 hoses, one supply and one return.

Removal of what you are looking at isn't complicated. It's just difficult to get your hands in some of the places to remove the fasteners. If you have a 4-cylinder engine, you have the easiest access out of anybody. The plastic housing is in 2 halves and the separation runs along the centerline of the evaporator coil.

If you are interested, I have a housing available from a 1996 Explorer that I am parting out. To my knowledge, it should be the exact replacement you need. Not trying to sway your decisions. Let me know here or in private message if you are interested. Basically, almost any of the parts in that area that you need are available. If you want these parts, I will video the removal process as I perform it. You can also go to local junk yards to get these parts.

The whole housing as it should look.

These 2 hoses bring coolant to the heater coil.

Your evaporator coil lives inside this part. Note the large refrigerant connection at the top and a slightly smaller metal refrigerant pipe at the bottom near the top shock mount.

Rectangular hole is where the blower fan resistor assembly lives. The small round hole should have a flexible rubber hose that helps cool the blower motor.