I've run in to alot of issues replacing my heater core, but my main problem has been removing the hoses; i eventually just sliced them vertically to get them off, abandoning all hope of reusing them. I bought new hoses just in case, including that half-S bend that goes to the pipe that runs along the firewall. My question is, how the heck do you get the the bottom clamp? I can't see any way of getting pliers down their to get it loose. Is there something i'm missing? Heater core half way done, i just have to run new hoses. Help ASAP would be appreciated!

 

Cut the old rubber hoses and remove. Loosen the coolant hard line tube that's bolted to the frame. With the hard line tube loose, you can move it up and around a little to gain a hold on the remaining hidden clamp. It's not an easy to get to item for sure! If you retain the hard coolant line, install the new clamp and new rubber starting with that connection.

Good luck

 

THANKS! BTW, where is the hard line bolted at exactly?

 

Along the passenger side frame rail. Should be one or two 10mm screw/bolts holding it down. Just look for the hoses routed to the hard line and follow it. Might be kind of hard to see them, take your time, you'll find them.

Do you still have the stock exhaust manifolds in your car? The reason I ask is, if you dont, and plan on installing headers at some point in the future, you might consider removing the hard line and re-routing new heater core hoses. Wish I'd done that when I did my header install and heater core and hose replacement. Hind sight

Good luck

 

you can use copper flexible tubing at local plumbing shops store

i use it all the time on vehicles

works great as a nice rust free replacement especially on vehicles tat horiginally got painted steel tubes that rot out, and are a disaster/nightmare

and on straight runs ill use plastic water pipe,

good luck

 

How did you go about re-routing the lines? Is it more efficiant than stock? I assume you rerouted them because of a clearence issue. Any pictures? Thanks.

 

Wow, i feel like a moron! I just discovered that with a pair of remote corban clip pliers and a heater hose tool, that this can be done in less than 15 minutes.

 

Share some more of this discovery... I've replaced these hoses and the hard pipe on the frame rail and remember it to be a terrible ordeal. Any tips / tools for future replacements would be great!
BTW, re-routing the heater core hoses and relocating the heater control valve can be done with relative ease using hoses with 90 degree bends but I couldn't find a way to eliminate the hook shaped hose without running another hose over the engine.