Newbie Needs Heater Core Help

[DigitalFalcon]

Hello Everyone. I'm new here. I decided last week to take the cover off and blow out the cobwebs from an 85 that I haven't driven in a long time. Over the last few days I was able to bring her back to life and she is purring like a kitten. Anyway thats another story. My problem is I'm about to takle an old PITA I've had since I put her away years ago: the heater core. (I think) She started ****ing down AF from under the plastic box on the firewall next to the heater blower and dripping down AF from under the passenger dash. Well, the Haynes manual has nothing in it about the heater core but after reading old posts here it sounds like thats the problem. And its sounds loike a PITA to fix. So, I know its alot to ask for the first question out of the shoot, but can anyone give me some guidelines on how to change it and what to look for?

Thanks
Ron

 

[JonM]

http://home.comcast.net/~jamislow/c4heater01.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~jamislow/c4heater02.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~jamislow/c4heater03.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~jamislow/c4heater04.jpg

As the old saying goes...its part #000000001...the rest of the car is built around it. Good Luck and have patients

 

[Ken]

Hmmm... May of 2000, eh Jon? Now I gotta dig that one out because I can't for the life of me remember it, and that was just about the time I replaced my heater core. How on earth could I forget something like that?? :confused

 

[JonM]

Hmmm... May of 2000, eh Jon? Now I gotta dig that one out because I can't for the life of me remember it, and that was just about the time I replaced my heater core. How on earth could I forget something like that?? :confused

Were you still drinking back then? :L

 

[Ken]

:L Actually, my last drink was in February of that year.

 

[scorp508]

Yank the passenger seat.
Lay down under the dash.
Yank the hush panel.
Drop the ECM.
Possible remove one small brace.
Unbolt the heater core.
Reverse.

At least this is how my friend replaced his in his '86 in about an hour and it is the same setup as yours is primarily.

 

[DigitalFalcon]

JonM,
Thank you for the article. That should help alot. I'm alot more nervous now after reading it though. The plastic interior parts get so brittle with age, I'm worried what all is going to break while I tear the dash apart. Oh Well. I'm starting on it today.

Scorp 508, It sounds like your friend did not have to take off the whole dash. Was this the case? Could it be easier than the article looks?

 

[scorp508]

Scorp 508, It sounds like your friend did not have to take off the whole dash. Was this the case? Could it be easier than the article looks?

It was for him and I know of someone else that did it the same way.

 

[JonM]

Ron...Brian (scorp) thinks everything is easy...You should see how fast he can change a 4+3 and his 350... ...heck he does it 2 or 3 times a year.

 

[scorp508]

Ron...Brian (scorp) thinks everything is easy...You should see how fast he can change a 4+3 and his 350... ...heck he does it 2 or 3 times a year.

Hey hey hey.....:L