Heater Core Replacement
 

Ok...this is the weekend to take the dash out and replace the heater core. I got my buddy's garage for 2 days. Am NOT mechanically inclined...but am learning (this little piglet is SO worth fixing).

Wish me luck...:egrin:

Ummm....I think I'll just wear a sweatshirt...thnx though...

This weekend I plan to take out a Fat Chick.
Wish ME luck!

While it probably would be easier to take the dash out you don't need to. I did end up removing some items to make it a lil more accessible but the entire dash does not need to come out. The car I removed it from was an 86 n/t so idk if that makes a difference. gl

I'm not sure if the heater core can be replaced with the dash in place but it'd sure be a lot easier with it out.

Its been about 8 years since I replaced it so I can't really give you any more inf o other than to take a look under the dash and see whats easy to remove to get access to it. I do remember that I never even thought of removing the dash, so gl either way you do it.

Go Easy on the bad back Dave too much to carry . Is that what happened to your back in the first place ?? GOOD LUCK :scratch:

Here's a recent pic of my heater system out of the car.
Attachment 692582
As you <strike>really can't</strike> see, it's not just the core you're removing, the long water lines and water valve connection must also be addressed.
I don't see how this is done with the dash in place but I'm willing to be proven wrong.

Even if it can be done, the question remains whether it should.
The FC dash ain't that hard to take out and once removed, the heater core is wide open and very easy to work on.
Leave the dash in place and the entire job is going to be done on your back, wedged into the footwells.

I know which option I'd prefer.

You cannot replace the Heater core without having to take out the dash.
Dash removal is pretty easy actually when you have done it once you get good at it.
I can do a dash in about an hour,Re and RE.That is if the seats are out.

make sure you remember where the bolts and nuts goes.

A rattling dash is annoying lol

I have indeed removed the heater core from my car without removing the dash. But as I stated in my earlier post my fc is an 86 and it does not have the long tubes coming off of it like in the picture. I don't know what year his car is just thought I'd chime in on my past experiences.

how did you do it?

Why do I keep seeing long-time members saying this?

The entire blower unit is not the heater core. Replacing the heater core DOES NOT require removing the dash. There is a cover that is easily accessible from under the driver-side of the dash. The core has 2 connections; disconnect them and slide it out.

It's really not that hard. I replaced mine ~5 years ago when it sprung a leak.

I said I was willing to be convinced otherwise.

Thanks for your post as some users in here seem to think I was blowing smoke up their asses. And to add to your post I believe I too removed some plastic cover as well as a plastic air vent. Once you crawl under there it becomes pretty obvious what needs to happen. If you CAN take your dash out EASILY this is probably the way to go. I remember starting my car up and having my new heater core leaking. Its tight down there and I'm a pretty skinny dude and it was still tough to access it. Also make sure you tighten the hose clamps good lol cause antifreeze smells awful and hard to get rid of the smell in ur carpet.

Turned out it was a bad driver heater hose. Was leaking between the firewall and running down the pipe into the passenger compartment on the driver side. Ordered a new hose...have a different clamp on it in the mean time.

But now the baffles aren't responding...all I get is heat. No a/c, no control over the heat. Fan works. A/C doesn't. Am wondering if I forgot to plug the core unit back in..

The long pigtail connection from the logicon is the one that connects to all the actuators on the heater box, if that's not hooked up, you get symptoms like you describe.

Hello guys.
I need to take out the heater (blower?) in my car, I've removed the 3 nuts that hold it and undid the metal clip thing that connects the "white box" to the "black box" but it still doesn't budge. What do I need to do to take it out?
This is how my car's interior is at the moment:

Attachment 692253

Attachment 692254

Take the center (black) box out first.

WHOA. The Black Box is the A/C! DUDE...that's connected to metal tubes thru the firewall. And is charged! The blower is the white box to the right with the grid. There are 3 nuts to remove for the blower...on on the top right of the unit, 1 each on either side of the bottom. I've got the shop manual for a 1990. Can scan pages if you like. outontheair@yahoo.com Bill

I may have made a mistake while explaining my thoughts...

This is the white box (heater, maybe that's how it's called?) that I want to take out (marked in red):

Attachment 692252

To remove this one, I need to remove the A/C " black box"?

She's an 89 GTUs

Maybe this is a dumb question, but: do I have to disconnect the hoses that go to the heater core on the engine bay side in order to take out the heater?