Heater Core - this what I have to do?

[timcos]

OK...the epoxy worked. Filled the holes, drilled the holes...screws hold fine.

I have now completely refurbished the interior of the ventilation system. Works like a champ. on high and all the way to heat...bam...cooking hotdogs.

The hosing for the duct work is a bit stiff...got if from LMC. Good solid stuff but no give.

Anyone know where I can get some elbows for this ductwork. Some of the bends...really need and elbow.

[dwaite72lnghrn]

I don't know of any elbows. Make sure you try and put them in at room temp. The plastic replacements need to be real warm to setup right. If it is the cloth type take your time with the bends as new ones will tear easily.

[timcos]

I guess I will get a hair dryer and tray and form them...now that they are in...It was probably 60 when I put them in.

[timcos]

Hair dryer...what was I thinking?

My heater now puts out more heat than any hair dryer...so I crancked up the heat and ran it thorugh the different tubes.

Now they are all formed and settled down...sitting nicely.

Tim

[MacCoug]

Not sure if anyone's still looking at this post, but timcos, your step by step has really helped me this weekend. It's sitting in my garage right now with all the bolts off and I was starting to pull the heater core housing off and expect light to shine down on me and angels to sing, but it won't budge. Is there a trick to getting it loose? I'm a little wary of yanking on it or prying it.

Also, assuming I don't get this finished tonight, is it okay to hook the battery back up and run the thing taken apart?

[timcos]

If you took the heater hoses off, the nuts off in the engine area, and removed the two bolts on the inside...it will be a bit firmly held to the firewall (old gasket) ...shake a bit and rattle it around firmly but gently...the angels will sing.

[timcos]

Oh yeah if you are going to run it with the thing all apart...do not forget to put the heater hoses back on...or you will have a mess.

[72 Cheyenne402]

I almost forgot about the heater core I replaces mine about 7 years ago and it all sounds right now replacing a heater core in a 97 tbird really sucks!!

[SkylineNXS]

I dont mean to highjack or anything, but i am going to replace my stock ac box (engine compartment box) with a stock heater box. The PO took off the ac compressor and left everything else, so i just want to go to the cleaner looking heater only setup. I was wondering if i need anything else but a new box and core? Thanks.....

Brad

[timcos]

I think the firewall is different.

Why not buy new compressor and have it all running well?

[MacCoug]

good deal. I finally got it out of there. I'm going to order the core today (wanted to make sure that was the problem), so it looks like I'm going to need a new gasket for the housing and a jnut and bolt that I had to grind off (yeah, just one!), oh, and some never-seize.

Anything else you suggest I pick up while at NAPA?

[timcos]

I am glad it went smoothly for your inner fender removal.

It is not required to remove the inner fender I found out but for the short time it takes to remove it...sure makes getting to those nuts a bit easier.

I would also pick up some general gasket material...you will need something between the heater core unit and that army green thing...mine is leaking air...but only when the blower is on...I am going to pick some up and slide it into mine when I get back in the cab.

[MacCoug]

is there a good way to check the flaps? I had someone suggest that a mix of warm and cool air was likely to the vent flaps not closing all the way. Since I have it all apart, I thought I'd check those too.

[timcos]

I wiggled mine back and forth...seemed to work OK...works really well now. I did notice once I cleared the crap out of the way...all seemed to work better...now like I said above...am cooking hot dogs in the cab...

I wiggled mine back and forth by the controller...using the slide controls.

I am some time this summer will be taking my outside part apart...cleaning out the whole thing...right after I install my cowl screens.

Tim

[SkylineNXS]

I didnt want to get another compressor and the other necessary parts to fix it, i figured it would be a little too costly for my bidget and im not really the one who needs ac anway. i thought it would be an easy switch, and i got a box with a core adn fan for only 30 bucks, but im not too sure that it will work now, heres a pic of what the remnants look like, sry bad pic.....

[timcos]

I would search around and find a pic of a non A/C firewall. I think they are a bit diff.

I am in the same spot as you...my old comressor was shot and worthless...I will need to buy a new one cause Utah summers are a tad warm by nature...high desert and all. Not quite as hot as vegas and Phoenix.

[john]

firewall diff.

[SkylineNXS]

Hey man thanks for the pic, looks like i just bought stuff without really lookin into it. Not exactly the best idea i guess. Looks like im not gonna do it now, lol. Oh well, im sure ill be able to sell it again......i hope. Thanks for the help guys.....

Brad

[MacCoug]

i've got heat! thanks for your help.

I do have one issue right now, the 2 bolts that hold the heater core housing to the firewall (from the inside) seem to have stripped the sheet metal. The threads look okay, but they don't tighten down very well.

Would it hurt anything to get a larger bolt? I just bought some new ones, same size and haven't had a chance to see if it's the threading.

[timcos]

Yee haw...love that heat.

I would imagine as long as the new bolt/screw fits through the housing hole...and holds better tot he firewall...you would be OK...it is also held by the nuts on the outside...holding the housing to the firewall.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Not to come across as a smart ass but the first rule that I make and I stick to it is take a picture. Digital camera's make this so easy. These camera's are really as important as any tool that you own.

esll.

[BobRitts]

Hah - finally did my heater core today. Didn't quite take a year for me to get around to it, (only 360 days). Went to look for instructions and what post should pop up but the one I started so long ago...

Initially I forgot to cut the hoses off the core from the engine bay (original hoses, frozen in place) so it didn't want to slide through the firewall. Took the hoses off and viola! Great write up Timcos!

Also had to deal with the inside air hoses, many torn and some too short, so I used some of that cloth tape to repair various sections. Except for the fact that the defrost vent selector seems to be off it's hinge it's working GREAT and was actually less effort than I had feared. I just stuck the defrost flap in the defrost position since that's what I need the most. Needless to say I'm really looking forward to the drive to work tomorrow with all that HEAT!

[timcos]

Bob,

I have a set of extra new plastic hoses if you are nearby...I am in NW Arkansas.

Tim

[BobRitts]

Originally Posted by timcos

Bob,

I have a set of extra new plastic hoses if you are nearby...I am in NW Arkansas.

Tim

Thanks for the offer - I would take you up on that but I'm all the way over in New Mexico. Could be a great road trip though, now that I have a heater.

I have it all back together now but will probably dig back in sometime soon as I completely trashed the glove box trying to get it in and out. Man - that 35 year old cardboard might as well have been made out of saltine crackers for how flexible it was. It was hard to touch it without poking my finger through.

[DeadheadNM]

Good write-up on replacing the heater core in an A/C equipped truck. I'm in the middle of replacing mine and wanted to add the following:

1) Get a new gasket to seal the heater box to the firewall - mine came out in pieces and is the reason the job isn't done as I didn't have a new one at hand
2) Of the two upper sheetmetal nuts, the screw for one closer to the driver side also secures a portion of harness so there are actually two nuts on this screw - I found this out after yanking a little while - one screw secures the harness the second, deeper secures the heater box
3) Place some plastic sheeting/garbage bag on top of the carpet and tucked up under the dash or your carpet will get wet
4) The inner fender absolutely has to be dropped to get at the outermost of the lower two sheetmetal nuts
5) As expected, the flapper in my diverter box was broken - I've got a NOS replacement on the way - if yours is original the flapper is likely bad and now is a good time to replace it
6) Even if you're careful there's a strong chance you'll crack the RH defrost vent if you try to manipulate it or it's duct - consider having a spare at hand
7) The glovebox insert has to be removed so now is a good time to add a glovebox light if so inclined
8) Chances are it's when not if you're going to have to replace the heater core and the brass/copper US made ones are no longer available to my knowledge but Mexico-made ones are (at least for now). Otherwise, you're left with aluminum - not sure country of manufacture on these.