hey all i need to replace the heater pipes that run along the block as they are full of rust and slowing the water getting to the heater core but am unsure how to get them..
out of the thermostat housing
out of the back of the water pump

cheers

ford should still sell them, i got one through them when i got the engine rebuilt.

ahh. was thinking of getting stainless steel ones made, but who do you get them out? do they screw out?

stainless would last forever the end that goes into the back of the water pump is very tricky AND YOU WILL HAVE TO REMOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE INLET MANIFOLD SORRY NO OTHER WAY

It's not too hard to remove if you get at it with a hack saw. The hard part is getting a new one back in. As mentioned above, you'd need to remove the exhaust/intake manifolds. There is also the hard to get to transmission/engine bolt that holds a bracket in for it (rear, drivers side of engine). The back of the water pump is simple once you remove the bolts holding pipe in position, it just pops off as you pull back on it.

Anyone thought about making it out of copper piping (assuming it's cheaper than SS). Might seem dodgy, but I don't see a problem since it's used in house water pipes. Hard part would be to figure out how to get it to seal properly on both ends.

just a suggestion, but is it possible to, say, cut the metal pipes a few inches out each end then use rubber heater hose and hose clamps?

good idea! it is always is the ends that rust not the pipe the lug on the trans. chisel; it off not used on later models as it is useless the end that goes into the pump is hard to replicate as it holds the o ring ina pressed groove [tricky]

ford does sell an adapter piece that goes into the back of the water pump

so if its only rusted at the end you can just trim it back and replace just the tip