heater core replacement w/o removing dash in a 78

[billyvette]

We all know about stories about heater core replacement. After owning my car since October 98, I finally relpaced the bad heater core. Started on Friday about 3:30 pm and had the core out in about 2 hours. Went sat morning and picked up matching heater hoses, clamps and cutoffs at the local NAPA and finished the job sat. afternoon about 5:00 pm. NAPA has heater hose cutoffs with brass internals which I use to cutoff the hot air in the summertime. I removed the center console gauges and loosened the passenger side dash mounts and was able to change the core without completely removing the entire dash assembly. This is on a 78 vette with the one piece dash.

 

[billyvette]

no replies at all? hello anybody out there?

 

[Blue82]

It's good to hear that I might not have to remove the dash. My core went out about two years ago and I am not looking forward to replacing it....I'd rather replace a timing belt on a Ford Escort!

 

[billyvette]

thanks for the reply blue 82, my mother has an escort, and personally i would do the timing belt over the heater core. My next project - headers and chambered exhaust, is more desirable from the mechanic's standpoint.

 

[Vett-Less]

Why did you bother replacing the heater core. You should heve just removed the heater hoses at the block. Who needs heat most of us are dying due to lack of cooling non working A/C

 

[billyvette]

Having a heater allows me to drive my car year round here in Mississippi. I did not think it got hot enough in Canada to even need a/c? As for non working a/c, that is what T tops and convertibles are for. A/c repair is even more costly, but to me is easier than heater core replacement.

 

[Blue82]

If it snowed down here and we put them up for the winter then no core wouldn't be a problem. But we get about 2 months of hot/cold weather, 1 month of winter, and then another 2 two months of hot/cold. We don't salt the roads and can drive our cars 365 days.

Downside... it's hotter than he** during the summer.

 

[billyvette]

yes, blue 82 you are correct, we have mild winters here in north ms. we pay for those mild winters with very very very humid summers. The temp may only be 95, but the humidity is so high you will literally sweat when standing still. It gets so hot and steamy, sometimes it is just miserable. But now I can drive my vette year round, so when we do have good weather (which can be any month of the year) I will be ready.

 

[brusso]

thanks for the reply blue 82, my mother has an escort, and personally i would do the timing belt over the heater core. My next project - headers and chambered exhaust, is more desirable from the mechanic's standpoint.

Have you looked at the heater core on the escort? Unless I'm confusing it with another car, it's like a 20 min job. Pull the glove box out and you can see the heater core cover. Like 4 screws/little bolts and she's out.

 

[bossvette]

Have you looked at the heater core on the escort? Unless I'm confusing it with another car, it's like a 20 min job. Pull the glove box out and you can see the heater core cover. Like 4 screws/little bolts and she's out.

I think billyvette meant he would rather do a timing chain on a escort then a heater core on a Vette :L altho I can't imagine anyone putting that much effort into a ford

 

[brusso]

Good point. It's just that most of my experience has been from working in a general repair shop. Didn't see many Vettes, as you can imagine. Anything that I know about Vettes has been from "as it breaks" kind of thing.

 

[billyvette]

exactly bossvette

I think billyvette meant he would rather do a timing chain on a escort then a heater core on a Vette :L altho I can't imagine anyone putting that much effort into a ford

you have my thoughts exactly, bossvette. I hope that is the case with the escort heater core, since my mother drives one.

 

[Blue82]

The thing I don't get about the heater core is that the hose connections stick out through the firewall, so why didn't GM just put an insulated face plate on it and mount it throught the firewall from the engine bay? Obviously it was either meant to be a difficult repair or more likely it was easily installed during assembly with no consideration for the difficult repair. Either way it is a pain in the rear that doesn't have to be.

 

[billyvette]

I think gm gives little thought to potential repair and replacement issues. I do not think any auto manufacturer considers this very much. We all know dealerships make major profit from the services depts. as opposed to profit from car sales. Gm's main concern is the assembly line activity with little to no thought about people like us.

I find this particularly true after owning a 94 z 28 for 10 years now. It is difficult to work on.

 

[bossvette]

The thing I don't get about the heater core is that the hose connections stick out through the firewall, so why didn't GM just put an insulated face plate on it and mount it throught the firewall from the engine bay? Obviously it was either meant to be a difficult repair or more likely it was easily installed during assembly with no consideration for the difficult repair. Either way it is a pain in the rear that doesn't have to be.

there is a saying that the heater core is the first thing on the assembly line and the Vette is built around it

 

[jdp6000]

Heaterm Core Replacement

I've been looking all over for how-to instruction for replacing a heater core on a 1982 corvette with A/C. I see you did it on a 1978...similar dash as mine.

I have a few questions. Other then disconnecting the two hoses from under the car is all the required work on the inside of the car??? I already have my dash out and can see the core cover. Do I need to undo anything in the engine compartment????

Thanks

Jim

 

[bossvette]

there will be one stud from the back on the firewall side, I would remove the blower motor also; I found a paint can lid in mine and several broken fan blades