This message is for anyone who has ever done a heater core replacement. I've been told it will take anywhere from 7 hours to the better part of the weekend. To start off with I don't have that much time along with not having 540$ to give it to someone who does. Does anyone have any tips or would like to tell me that it doesn't take this long.
I've read the tech article from thirdgen and sethirdgen and seems pretty simple.

Please help!

Darlene

 

Man I will tell you this it is a BITC*. I know this chiltons says you have to take off the center consol in the camaros to get the dash off. I tried to replace mine but I couldnt get the whole dash panel off (the part you look at) So I had to have it finished. But then I realize whut was keeping it all on, was teh stupid SPEED cable that goes to the back of the speedo so take that off and your golden you can get to the heater cover box. Good luck

 

Just replaced the one in my GTA about 3 hours ago. Never did it before, took about 3 to 4 hours. The two top bolts can be difficult,however if you remove that one electrical harness to the right of the box(1screw), and let it hang out of the way you can get both screws with EASE. Once you get the cover off, 4 screws hold core bracket in place,after which just pull out carefully. Infact, I did not even drain the radiator, just took pressure off system by uncapping. Very minimal coolant loss when disconnecting hoses. I quess what I am trying to say is take your time and dont get overwelmed. It is just alittle tidious. I think I could do it in 2 hours next time .

 

it took me 4 days to get the dash completly out of my car (83 maro). now that i know exactly how to do it, it would take bout 3-4 (complete dash). taking the dash out and putting it back in is the hardest part. make sure u have a full day to do it (if uve never taken ur int apart before). its really not that difficult, just time consuming.

mike (loomdog)

 

I have never worked on a camaro before, however taking the dash out to change a heater core. WOW, you sure there is not some kind of short cut somewhere?

 

Thanks for everyone suggestion. As far as I know you have to go through the dash and front panel. That really isn't a problem for me because I've done it so much. <my car and my boyfriends> Just doing minor things such as speakers and trying to figure out why my instrument panel kept blowing fuses. I was just wondering why everyone was telling me it would take so long. Thanks for all your tips.

 

I haven't had the good fortune of needing to perform the surgery on a Camaro, but I did it on my 86 Firebird and on my 88 GTA. Took a couple hours both times. On the firebird I unbolted the heater box cover except for the 1 or 2 bolts at the top that I couldn't reach. I was able to reach in and get the heater core out without completely removing the cover though. I took the same approach with the gta but the cover was brittle. POW! It broke when I reached in. That made the job MUCH easier.

After I broke it, I swapped the core out, and bolted the broken piece back in. It still fit perfect and no air blew out the crack. I threw a piece of duct tape over the seam and called it a day. It took me under 2 hours to do that one.

 

Well since I have a firebird it will probably be just as easy...hopefully I won't break anything. I just don't like the fact that auto shops can rip you off so much. The part costs 19.00 and they want 540 dollars for it? Come on.

I appreciate all the replies from everyone. I'll be doing the surgery Saturday hopefully...that if it doesn't rain!

 

I did my 87 IROC about 6 months ago at night when the kids were in bed. My only advice is cut the old hoses off and replace them with new ones. It saves a lot of time instead of trying get the old ones off to reuse.

 

With air tools I was able to do mine last week in 2 1/2 hrs. I pulled the console, took out speakers, undid other bolts, dropped column and was able to get it far enough out to stick my hed back there. It was easy considering it was just undoing some bolts. Air tools helped just undo the major bolts and pull don't bother pulling cluster apart unless you want to take the whole dash out for whatever reason. Now I have a flawless dash to go in. Thats the fun part

 

when I did my 86 T-A it only took a couple of hours and I did not have to remove the whole dash, just the lower trim panels and some other small stuff. as for the two bolts at the top, find a flexible shaft driver (looks like a screw driver with a cable insted of the steel shaft and accepts sockets) works great !!!!!