'69 Mach 1 Heater Box Stuck

[CV355]

The interior is out, dash (upper and lower) is out, basically down to sheet metal everywhere.  During disassembly I noticed that the OE firewall insulation had disintegrated into a mixture of orange dust and probably asbestos.  I am now trying to pull the heater core assembly but the dang thing wont budge. 

I removed:
-The control cables
-The screw holding the box to the cowl
-The screw on the glovebox side holding the box to the lower cowl bracket
-Cowl plenum entirely
-Nuts from the firewall in the engine bay (both sides, at motor and at the plenum box in the center)
-Both heater core hoses and the heater core itself (clips off, front cover off)

I can't find anything holding the box assembly and blower in position.  I can rock it around some, but it feels like someone may have glued the dang thing to the firewall and I'm afraid to give it much force.  There are no visible fasteners left anywhere.

Any advice?

While on this topic, I've read that SecondSkin and Dynamat are acceptable for firewall insulation.  Given that the current pad looks like someone threw a muppet in a blender, it's not much use anymore.  Any recommendations here?

[C8OZ]

Maybe something else, but the lower center (under 24) is often a troublemaker, I think. (at least when the engine is still in)

http://www.andrewsmach1.com/myphotos/ccmustang/firewallholes.jpg

[CV355]

Maybe something else, but the lower center (under 24) is often a troublemaker, I think. (at least when the engine is still in)

http://www.andrewsmach1.com/myphotos/ccmustang/firewallholes.jpg

That one escaped me at first, but I got the little bugger.  Engine bay is now 100% clear of any fasteners. 

I even tried tapping (gently) against the studs poking through to see if it was just a thin film of sealant or something holding it against the firewall. 

[CV355]

Update.  During my lunch break, I gave it another look.  No fasteners were left.  I noticed a pronounced crack all along the top of the blower housing, so I suppose it is a lost cause.  I got it out in 3 pieces.  It was glued... 

I suppose the next question is, how much asbestos did I breathe in?

[cjshaker]

There's no asbestos in that insulation. If it's not totally destroyed, the box can be fiberglassed back together. Problems is that after this much time, the fiberglass that was used tends to get brittle and can crack and bust out easily. If that's the case, time to replace it.

[CV355]

There's no asbestos in that insulation. If it's not totally destroyed, the box can be fiberglassed back together. Problems is that after this much time, the fiberglass that was used tends to get brittle and can crack and bust out easily. If that's the case, time to replace it.

That's a relief! 

Yeah, the fiberglass is incredibly brittle at the moment, and where it was cracked is not easily accessible to glue/glass back together.  It's probably at the point where it should be replaced anyways.  I made the mistake of running a street/strip car 10 years ago without any heat, and I'll never do that again.

[cattleFEeder]

Watch this for some pointers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGDIVebjKE.
Its not a fun job with a/c but hopefully we don't have to do it again in in the cars lifetime. I think I would rather pull a motor and tranny.

[CV355]

Watch this for some pointers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGDIVebjKE.
Its not a fun job with a/c but hopefully we don't have to do it again in in the cars lifetime. I think I would rather pull a motor and tranny.

I have never been more thankful to not have A/C.  Hahaha.