Heater Core Replacement

[mus69tang 10]

I have a factory AC car that needs a heater core. It looks like there is a panel on the firewall that can come off. Is there any way to get the heater out without disturbing the AC evaporator?

Thanks,

Lee

[StephenC 10]

not unless you tear apart the whole upper and lower dash.

[danno 128]

Unfortunately, heater core replacement is not easy. You need to remove the upper and lower dash secions and take it all apart from the inside. Once you get to the box with the core in it, it also has the evaporator in it. You can seperate the top half and bottom half of this box without removing the evaporator if you are very careful. This box has spring clips that hold the top to the bottom half, and there are a few on the side next to the firewall that will be difficult to get at. It is probably a full day's job to remove it and another day to put it back in.

 

Maybe just plug up the lines to the heater and wear a jacket when it gets cold?

[mus69tang 10]

Thanks guys...

I already plugged it off, but I really need to bite the bullet and fix it right. I was just hoping there was an easy way......

I probably need to rebuild the box and change the seals anyway.

[chillininnh 21]

You would be remiss to go through ALL the work to remove the evaporator without completely rebuilding while you had it out.

[carprojects 10]

I have same setup with AC and heater core in the one box. Actually, if you just remove the glove box and fire you can wiggle it out from under the dash. I've done this a few times.

 

Also, reproduction heater cores are weak at the point where they solder the tubes to the main part of the core. Mine started leaking when I was pulling the hose off, the solder joint holding the copper tube came off also. I propane torch / soldered it back on and it's much stronger. Just saying you may want to preemptively do this as it could save you a teardown.

[strokedwindsor 11]

has a guy do mine yrs ago. said he never do it again...