Ford Repair: heate core replacment, ford ranger pickup, plenum chamber

Question
I am changing the heater core on a 1996 ford ranger pickup, xlt
2.3 liter,standard transmission
air conditioning
I have a hayes book and have removed the instument panel, radio, cover over the passanger air bag ( don't have a passenger air bag ) but I see know way to access heater core.
Book says to remove instument panel and remove
heater core form plenum, Don't see any way to access the heater core or a reason to remove instrument panel.
Help


Answer
Hello and thanks for the question...I'll try to help.

Removal
Disconnect battery ground cable.
Drain cooling system.
Disconnect hoses from heater core. Plug hoses and core openings to prevent leakage of residual coolant.
In passenger compartment, remove instrument panel. See: Instrument Panel, Gauges and Warning Indicators\Instrument Panel\Service and Repair
Remove heater core from heater air plenum chamber.
Reverse procedure to install.

Instrument panel removal:
Disconnect battery ground cable.
Disconnect wiring connectors in engine compartment.
Remove two bolts retaining hood latch control handle and cable and lower cable and two bolts attaching parking brake release.
Upper Series Console
Remove upper series console, if equipped.
Using hand pressure, free four (4) snapping clips attaching console finish panel assembly (message center will be removed with finish panel).
Disconnect four (4) electrical connectors to message center.
Remove console panel control finish panel by releasing six (6) snapping clips.
Disconnect electrical connector (light bulb with blue filter) for console ashtray.
Remove screw in main wire connector to disconnect, then pull connectors apart (screw is located in the instrument panel side of connector).
Remove two (2) screws attaching console to instrument panel.
Remove two (2) screws attaching console to floor pan.
Slide console rearward to release rear bracket (front console bracket is money clip shaped and will release as console is slid rearward.
Lift console from vehicle.
If Ranger, move transfer case control to far forward position.
Remove instrument panel steering column cover by removing two (2) screws and pulling on cover to release grasshopper clips.
Remove bolt to bracket at right of accelerator pedal.
Remove instrument panel steering column reinforcement by removing six (6) screws.
Remove TK yoke by removing two (2) nuts from cross vehicle beam.
Open fuse panel door, and remove two (2) bolts attaching instrument panel to cowl (A pillar beam).
On right side of instrument panel lower, remove one (1) bolt.
Remove one (1) threadless fastener and two (2) pushpins attaching insulator to lower right-hand instrument panel.
Lift edge of defroster grille, using a flat wooden dowel, then pull up on defroster grille to release clips and tension tabs. Remove defroster grille.
Remove four (4) bolts at top of instrument panel.
Disconnect all electrical connections at rear of instrument panel.
Remove instrument panel.
If replacing instrument panel, transfer all components to new instrument panel.
For installation, follow removal procedures in reverse order.
NOTE: When the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, some abnormal drive symptoms may occur while the powertrain control module (PCM) relearns its adaptive strategy. The vehicle may need to be driven 16km (10 miles) or more to relearn the strategy.

The heater core comes out of the top of the heater core plenum...........IF you can get to it by taking the air bag cover plate off.........DO IT! Otherwise, follow the instructions above.
Hope this helps,
Erik