My passenger floor is soaked, and i have never done this before.
Was thinking of just tying the 2 hoses together until fall. People tell me that your dash will never be the same after you destroy
it ripping it out. Guys i love my non sweaking dash. Help me, how can i do it without killing my dash.

Kyle

 

It should be similar to this www.hioutput.com/tech/heatercore.html

 

Changing the heater core is well documented here, use the search function to find one of them.

Removing the dash pad is easy and doesn't damage it. There are a bunch of screws, don't drop them down the air vents...

Although a challenging procedure for big guys such as myself, it is a very doable fix. Connect the two hoses together until you have time to change the core. When you're ready, take off the dash pad, loosen the bolts/nuts on the lower passenger side holding the dash in, then pull it out several inches -- this will allow enough room to reach those pesky, tiny little screws ... the top one is a real PITA. There is NO need to completely remove the dash. Removing the broken core and installing the new one is just a matter of fumbling around for the correct angle to poke those pipes through the hole.

Contrary to some who say this is the ultimate PITA, it is not ... having a rat die in the air vents is far worse.

 

OMG!! I did mine this past year, That was a B**** serious man, i didnt take my dash out only the top part and some screws to make it lose to get under there. it took me 2 days and 2 heater cores, the first one i broke the hose line on the heater core!!! it sucks then the second time the samething so i just got my pipeing stuff out and fixed it. I will NEVER do that again. GOOD LUCK BRO!!!!

 

I'm not going to lie and tell you that it's an easy or fun task to do, but as long as you have patience and determination, you shouldn't have any problem getting it right the first time around.

Here is some advice that I can give you based on my own experience with replacing the heater core.

You don't have to remove the dashpad or any of the other things that you might have read in a manual about replacing the core. The only thing you will need to remove is the floor cover, the cover to the heater box, and the heater core assembly (which holds the heater core in place by use of brackets).

Best way to do it is just remove your seat and lay down on the floor until you get the job done. However, you don't necessarily have to do it (I didn't and I'm 6'0").

Getting the core out will be the easy part. Putting the new one back in will be the biggest pain in the *** of the whole procedure. If you are already losing your patience with this, I'd recommend taking a short break and cool off before trying to get the new one in.

A replacement heater core's tubing may positioned slightly different from the position of the holes in the firewall. If you find you can't seem to get the heater core in place even after aligning it correctly, try gently bending the tubes in order for them to "line up" with the holes in the firewall.

It's VERY IMPORTANT that you be gentle with your replacement heater core!! If you are too forceful with it when trying to get it into place, you could damage the fins and the tubing, causing it to leak. I learned this from experience. During my time with this project, I went through three different cores due to mishandling.

Finally, make sure you reclamp the hoses to the heater core correctly once you finish the project. If you don't clamp the hoses immediately on or after the small ridges on the heater core tubing, the hoses will leak and it will look as if all your hard work went to waste (when in actuality, it's just the hoses leaking). Don't assume the new heater core is faulty until you've made absolutely sure the hoses are clamped right.

Hope that helps. Good luck with it man.

 

well i did mine about 2 months ago first time ever.. it wasnt that bad im 18 never did it before read boards before doing it and went smoothly except that top screw. i also heard earylier the year the easier to do because of the computer stuff i have a 84

removed dash pad and underdash pannel got the first 3 screws easy tryed opening the box cause i didnt feel anymore screws nothing happen had to end up sticking my head almost in the heatercore surrounding box to see where it was at

looked for it with my hand found it couldnt gett the screw out hadda end up getting a rachet that neck bent to get it never put it back in when put back together hoses were hard to get off but they did it didnt get very messy at all i didnt drain nothing either just let your car cool for awhile make sure coolant is nice and cool

my dash looks the same btw nothing changed

gl

if i had to do it again i would i wont pay how much they want to do it

 

man bro i dont know how you can do that again? After what i went trough i hope my heater core lastes through my life time More power to you bro!!

 

General info:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=210395

JamesC

 

It's probably easier the second time around, since you are now more familiar with the area and how to replace the core instead of just going into it blind (like me). Heh.

 

Sheesh ... it's not hard enough for whining ... it's the same level as a novocaine root canal -- the real PITAs come without pain killers.

Just make sure to have a partner on the engine compartment side guide the piping through the holes, that way there's no chance of breaking the heater core forcing it into place.