Heater box removal - look away
 

Finally time to remove the mouse playground..
I realized the bolts and clip nuts for the inner fender weren't going to cooperate, so some of you may want to look away at this point. I drilled a 1" access hole to get the most outboard bolt out. The next one inboard I was able to get with an offset wrench 1/12 of a turn at a time...that stud is long

Pay no attention to those other smaller holes, they're for something unrelated :p

I figured I'd be able to find a plastic plug for that hole and the little ones I'll weld up. The heater core actually wasn't leaking, the fan motor works, and the squirrel cage definitely had a squirrel chewing on it. Super!

Re: Heater box removal - look away
 

Mine has holes drilled for access as well. This is a feature that should have been done originally. It’s stuff like this that you realize the ones who design aren’t the ones who have to work on them.

Re: Heater box removal - look away
 

Those J nuts weren't designed to last 50 years.

Re: Heater box removal - look away
 

For sure. I may drill a hole for the next inboard one as well, but I'll do my best to hit it on the first try. I'll, at least, cut that stud down a bit.

Re: Heater box removal - look away
 

Yeah, I hit the ones I could with pb blaster. Got one bolt out, then 2 just wanted to spin the nut. Plan B.

Re: Heater box removal - look away
 

I was able to get to all spinning nuts but one with vise grips or pliers. I used an impact wrench on the bolt while holding the nut. On the one where I could not reach the nut I used a hacksaw blade wrapped with a rag for a handle, and inserted the blade between the inner and outer fenders and sawed the bolt.