NEED HELP, Heater Core

[goingballistic]

OK I'm confused, nothing new, but this one's got me good. I am in the process of changing the heater core on my 81. I've got the dash out, the center console, passenger seat, carpet, center duct work, defrost duct work.

I am assuming the core is behind the main duct work directly behind and just below the glove box? Now my problem, I've got all the bolts out, one on top, two down below and nothing else seems to be attached to it but for the life of me I can't budge the duct work that is covering the core.This duct work has the controls on top of it, vacuum lines running over the top etc.............I can't for the life of me figure out what's holding that thing to the fire wall and assume that that duct work HAS to come off to get to the core???

Anyone got any ideas what else I can do to break this thing free???? or am I missing something....................I'm afaid I'm going to break something if I just wrench it out off the fire wall..........somethings gotta be holding it there!!!!!!!!

This is THE most convoluted thing I have ever removed from this carad

 

[Chas]

bolts in engine compartment...

i have a bolt or 2 on the other side of the fire wall in the engine compartment.
It a '73 mind you but i bet you will see you have one too.Slow down and take your time...before you ever do something questionable , post it here...im amazed at the things i have learned here by simply asking!
Good luck.....i used a few small "O" rings to help keep the vent doors and things quiet.
Chas

OK I'm confused, nothing new, but this one's got me good. I am in the process of changing the heater core on my 81. I've got the dash out, the center console, passenger seat, carpet, center duct work, defrost duct work.

I am assuming the core is behind the main duct work directly behind and just below the glove box? Now my problem, I've got all the bolts out, one on top, two down below and nothing else seems to be attached to it but for the life of me I can't budge the duct work that is covering the core.This duct work has the controls on top of it, vacuum lines running over the top etc.............I can't for the life of me figure out what's holding that thing to the fire wall and assume that that duct work HAS to come off to get to the core???

Anyone got any ideas what else I can do to break this thing free???? or am I missing something....................I'm afaid I'm going to break something if I just wrench it out off the fire wall..........somethings gotta be holding it there!!!!!!!!

This is THE most convoluted thing I have ever removed from this carad

 

[goingballistic]

I'm lost........this is an 81 an before I rip the entire front end of the car apart, I need some input form someone who's done this before......PLEEEAAASSSEEEE.

I have everything off on the passenger side, dash, side panel, seat etc ( see first thread on this post) I can't budge the last duct covering the heater core. Vettedude indicates a couple of bolts on the fire wall. I have what appears to be an A/C unit bolted right where he is indicating these bolts to be( plastic cover attached to fire wall A/C hoses run into it). I need to know if that whole assembly has to come off the fire wall so I can get to the bolts under it ( assuming there are bolts in there) that go through the fire wall and hold that duct work on I REALLY don't want to take it off if it doesn't have to come off but at this point I'm at a loss. THis is day two of what appears to be the heater core from hell story

It just doesn't seem feasible that stuff in the engine compartment has to come out to get the core out???????

ANY ONE??????????? HELP, PLEEEAAASSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

 

[Chas]

i have a/c too...

look at the wall near or next to it...i did my core last summer, there is atleats one bolt on my firewall that looks like it does nothing...just there near the A/C unit...look and see if you have a bolt..the bolt i refer to hold the entire unit housing the core...not the ducts...the housing...my duct work dropped pretty easy....if not , i tryed bro...dont swaet it....help is always just a post away!
Good luck, Chas
PS...Do you have a Hayes repair manual?

I'm lost........this is an 81 an before I rip the entire front end of the car apart, I need some input form someone who's done this before......PLEEEAAASSSEEEE.

I have everything off on the passenger side, dash, side panel, seat etc ( see first thread on this post) I can't budge the last duct covering the heater core. Vettedude indicates a couple of bolts on the fire wall. I have what appears to be an A/C unit bolted right where he is indicating these bolts to be( plastic cover attached to fire wall A/C hoses run into it). I need to know if that whole assembly has to come off the fire wall so I can get to the bolts under it ( assuming there are bolts in there) that go through the fire wall and hold that duct work on I REALLY don't want to take it off if it doesn't have to come off but at this point I'm at a loss. THis is day two of what appears to be the heater core from hell story

It just doesn't seem feasible that stuff in the engine compartment has to come out to get the core out???????

ANY ONE??????????? HELP, PLEEEAAASSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

 

[goingballistic]

OK boys, thanks vettedude, I got it out last night, that's got to be the R&R from hell and hope never to have to do that again.

For those of you who have to do this in the future..............don't!!!! Have someone else do it for you.........seriously though, I'll have a write up on this with pics and an explaination by mid next week. I'll send it to Rob to post somewhere on the site, in the mean time if any of you are doing this on an 81 and need help or guidance, PM or email me and I can now give you explicit instructions of how to do this.

Word of caution..........buy beer before you start and find a LOT of patience, you're gonna need them !!!!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Please post your pictures. I am still putting my '82 off for a time when I have lots of patience. It's been 5 years without heat, and I bought the core 4 years ago.

 

[goingballistic]

Please post your pictures. I am still putting my '82 off for a time when I have lots of patience. It's been 5 years without heat, and I bought the core 4 years ago.

Hey Pete, I'll get them up here as soon as possible. I got the new core in today and got the entire car back together, started it and guess what.........the SOB leaks!!!!!! ad I'm gonna kill someone before this is finished, so I'll be starting to take it apart again tomorrow and will have to postpone the picks until I'm finished more than likely last this week. It appears that I may have bent the stubs during installation as it's leaking inside and outside the car. go Figure.

Where in Rochester are you, I'm in Brockport. You're welcome to stop over and see the complexity of this if you so desire. Let me know.

Paul.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Paul,
Oh man, that's a real kick in the teeth. All that work and it's no better than the original problem.
We got some wild lightning here tonight, didn't we?
I got a lightning hit in front of my house on video tape.
I'm up here by the Fast Ferry, and I would like to see your project in it's disassembled form when you get back to that point. I'll send you a private message with my Phone number and you can give me a call when you're ready to show your work.
Thanks a lot!