windowrattler

iTrader: (3)

When researching a bit on heater core replacements a lot of people had problems with them fitting right. I got mine from rock auto for $29.99 plus shipping and it fit just fine. The part I ordered was VISTA-PRO Part # 399083.

Jono4820

iTrader: (1)

Glad all worked well. I would rather replace my fuel pump (the right way) before I ever do another heater core...

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Yup I am not looking forward to doing a heater core. But Vista pro is a pretty good brand I am glad it worked well for you. Make sure to do yearly coolant services and check for electroysis in the cooling system and it should last a very long time for you

QUICKCHICKEN

iTrader: (12)

of all the heater cores i'v installed, i havent had any fitment issues and they came from various sources. as for doing a heater core install, i can do one in an hr.

windowrattler

iTrader: (3)

Well I think it'd only take about an hour or so now that I know all the other little tricks. The biggest thing is to remove the ecm. That made getting to the son of a bitch bolt rather easy.

QUICKCHICKEN

iTrader: (12)

thats something i noticed about the camaros, or atlest the later year camaros is the ECM and the buffer box has to come out. on birds you can yank the panel under the pouch and ave access to that top screw and the other 6 are no sweat and the ECM stays put.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Book time on this job is 7.5 hours....an hour is pretty good.

QUICKCHICKEN

iTrader: (12)

my friends dad said "boo calls for 6 hrs, aint doin it" i told him i'll have it done in 1 hr. friend said "i gotta see this". after i put the last screws in place for the box cover i looked at him and said "ok, now what do they do with the other 5 hrs?!?!

he promptly called his dad and said "sho nurf, he did it in an hr".

IMO the hardest part is getting the hoses off in which i use pry bars against the edge of the hose to break the seal and a L pick to run under it when accessable.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

that makes me feel better. so you dont have to pull the whole dash or console then im assuming?

diy_zman

LOL Did mine over the winter, and if you can do it in an hour , You ain't touchin my car ..........

QUICKCHICKEN

iTrader: (12)

nope, i had a friend call me discusted after attempting to do his. he read the book and had half the dr side dash apart along with the pas side. i told him to stop and i'll be there shortly. spent more time getting everything back together that should never have been touched in the first place.

why do ya say that? the project is a matter of 3 hush panel screws, 6 cover box screws, 4 core bracket screws and 3 that hold the core to the bracket and 2 hoses in the eng bay.
i'v done enough heater cores that its second nature so for me an hr is avg. i also use a flexi-stension which helps me get into those tight spots. you sound as if im destroying stuff just to get it done.

strigi86

i bypassed my core and put off changing it for 2-3 years after reading about having to pull the dash etc.. turns out everything was easily accessible from below the passenger side, didnt need to touch the dash, dash pad, computer, nothin, just slid right out and bolted back in

mines an 86 iroc

hardest part by far: the larger hose on the other side of the firewall was stuck so i had to cut it off and replace it - one of those jobs where you cant see past your own hand so have to just blindly grope at it for an hour

windowrattler

iTrader: (3)

I was expecting a long tedious process of taking apart the dash. In my 92 RS you do NOT have to remove the dash. As said above you remove the passenger lower dash panel, the ecm, four screws for the air box cover and four screws for the heater core box. Also as said the hardest part of the whole thing is taking off the hoses in the engine bay. Now if you were taking apart the whole dash I could see it taking quite a few hours.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

Wow thats awesome. Its making me wanna do mine just for preventive maintenance cause I hate things breaking down when im out and about.

QUICKCHICKEN

iTrader: (12)

undercover go ahead and tackle it, ya have any issues drop a line and ask. i or one of the other heater core experienced will be glad to bail ya out.

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

yeah I think I will this coming winter. unless it goes out sooner haha.

92 Formula

iTrader: (2)

Exactly. Heaters core horror stories are a myth on 3rd gens. The first time I did it I was shocked how easy it was to do compared to what the Helms manual wanted me to do. Done it on a '90 IROC and a 92 Formula.

UnderCover89TBI you're gonna be shocked just how easy it truly is.

An old member here (Petes 84Z28) made this DIY that may help you: http://www.hioutput.com/tech/heatercore.html

Best wishes to you.

I'M THE BATMAN

Thank you , Learning every day , Was told a heater core job was pulling the dash . LOL saved to my favorites . a man should be able to do anything with instructions (pictures) . I'll give it a shot , Nice fall rides around here, But without heat , Thats not gonna happen .

davidz

iTrader: (3)

Any tricks to pulling the heater hoses off without cutting them off?

formula forever

I always had to cut them off because of corrosion. To me thats the hard part pulling the heater hoses off. After i get them off i spray alittle wd40 on my finger put on tip of new hose then install. It makes it easy to install with the wd on it. I always recommend new hoses. They are cheap and easy.

mmadden55

Take the clamps all the way off, clamp on a pair of vice grips, not tight enough to crush pipe just good snug grip on hose, and twist hose on pipe. Once you can twist it on the pipe you can pull it of easy. Also use motor oil or wheel bearing grease to lube the pipe end before you put the hose on, it will make a real difference, I would replace the hoses while your at it.

thejimsterz28

Hey we're the coolant tubes saudered in place on the vista pro heater core or were they one of those or

thejimsterz28

Hey did the vista pro heater core have saudered connections or that oring setup with swiveling tubes?

thejimsterz28

Ok guys, I finally found one that has saudered connections. Spectra premium 94606. Autozone carries it way cheaper than buying online. I got it for 27.99. It also bolts right up to the housing, unlike some of the others. hope this helps someone!

JOEM

I ordered the ready-aire / vista-pro 0399830 from Amazon and it is not the exact match and the project would turn out to be a Hack-Job if I continued. Do not buy it for the 1992 and possibly from 1982 to 1992 F-Bodies.

I called Amazon and they are replacing it with the Spectra Premium 94606 which looks more like the original. They were great about the return as it was two months over the deadlind and they are overnighting the Spectra. You sometimes pay a little more but the customer service was great.

Also, it is made in Mexico and it leads you to believe U.S. as it says North America.

JOEM

I will post pictures of some of the tools I used and the Snap On flexible 1/4 drive Driver is a must. You need to remove the PCM and the white bracket to get your right hand to the top of the black core cover. With the driver in your left hand put it straight up in between the cover and the bottom of the dash facia. Then grab the socket (same you used on the other screws) and guide it to the screw with your right hand. then just turn the up-facing driver counter clockwise with ease in your left hand. The right hand is acting as your eyes and seeing-eye dog.

For the hose I used a two foot long tool with a small 120 deg. hook at the end. It also was not pointed but had a ball on the tip and work it it around the hoses as I was pulling on the hose. The hose pulled off eventually. I wanted to save the correct date stamped hoses.

joshc

iTrader: (1)

These make getting the hoses off a lot easier.

http://www.harborfreight.com/8-inch-...ick-96572.html

I would recommend replacing them anyways. 10 ft of heater hose at my local parts store is around $10!

thejimsterz28

Not to mention radiator hose grease from the parts store eliminates virtually all stress on parts when installing hoses and taking them back off in the future. I just used some for my installation and was amazed! The hoses slid right on with no effort! I'm using that for all of my hoses from now on! That will keep stress off of joints that are saudered!