ok so im replaceing the heater core in my 1992 Chevy Camaro RS and i got it takin apart and the old heater core out but geting the new core in is becoming a problem. i got it through the firewall but the bolts didnt line up at all they were way off so i pulled it out and looked at the new and the old cores and the old heater core tubes r bent way different than the new ones. what sould i do. did i buy a bad one and need to get a new one if so what would u suggest i get.or is there a way i can bend them without damaging them.what do u think i sould do please help

 

Take it back with your old one and exchange it. You shouldn't have to bend the tubes even a little. You'll run the risk of cracking them, then it will be your fault. Sorry if you mailed ordered it, but it still needs to go back.

 

ok thanks where would u suggest i go for the new core?

 

For things like this that I want right the first time and I don't want to redo in a few weeks - I always get parts from either the stealership, Napa, or Carquest.

 

I just replaced mine, got it from napa and it fit like it was the original.
Mine was a 1982 Camaro, but if i recall the guy said said it fit 1982-1992.
Heck the parts manufacture may have put the wrong part in the box, it has happened to me before.Take the old one in and match it up with the new one they give you.
My napa part # was NHC6603284.

 

ok thanks 4 the help

 

I actually just had the same problem 2 weeks ago.

We heated up the tubes on the new core and lined them up so they looked like the old core. Then we went back and checked/measures/compared it with the old one.

Long story short, we got it to resemble it as close as possible and it worked!

Then we went back and sodered around the base of the tubes, as a precaution, to prevent leakage from any damage that we may have caused.

I even took the new core back, first, to see if they were all like that, and they were. So heating it up and bending the tubes were my only choice.

Anyway good luck.

 

How long is it taking you guys to replace the heater core? If I remember correctly it took me a friend like 2 days when we put one in his '92 several years ago.

Are you taking the dash completely out (stripped down to the firewall), or is there an easier way?

 

you can just take the dash halfway off, just drop the column and remove enough bolts to pull the dash about a foot away from the firewall.

it only took me about 2 hours or so

 

its that top screw...that is the real only problem kinda. Me and my freind unbolted the dash. Unbolting isnt as hard as it seems, we both had repair manuals, and did what it said...

Do yourself a favor and if you cant, dont replace the 5th screw on the top. And dont be a bum and dont put ti back together, my dash is still apart 10 months later.

Good Luck!!!! Just get yourself an afternoon... You'll be fine...

 

the bigest problem had with geting it apart was that dam 5th screw on top cause ima big guy so i couldent get my hands up there to even find the screw and i didnt wont to take the dash completly apart so i just riped that last screw out (after the problems it gave me i wasnt goin to put it back eny way). but this heating core thing is becoming a real pain in the *** cause its been about a month and i keep running into problems with weather,school takin up the most of the day and almost all of the dam sun light because its winter and the lights mostly gone by 5 and just problems like the tubes not being bent right.

 

i never did a heater core on a third gen but i did on my monte ss. I know (as we all talk about) the core is on the inside etc. I'd like to get the reapir book to make sure i do it right without breaking the fragile dash parts. Which book do you guys recommend for doing this job? Better yet- which one has the best pictures. Hey- even pop-ups would be cool!

 

do u have the dash off or at least pulled back yet?

if not, thats what you have to do. unless you are a little asian kid there is no way you will be able to do the "from underneath" medthod, as described in the chilton's manual. Seriously, it is a much more simple, stress free and less time consuming to just remove the dash.

 

Does the steering wheels need to be dropped for taking off the dash?

 

i dropped my steering column to get my dash out. Just figured it would less of a hassle with it out of the way.

 

when i did it i did remove the dash i would have been a bit easy just to much extra work

 

it would be ridiculous not to drop the column. it is so easy it consists of about 8 bolts or so and 4 of them are 13mm, i think, and the other 4 are torques head fasteners.

once you have it dropped it just makes things way more simple; the dash will then be able to drop down and pull out further.

 

i think that the dash doset really need to come out because other that the bolt at the top the dash dosent really get in the way and geting that last bolt is just a matter of time and workin at it and droping the column isent nesasary, but we all have r ways and it probley would have saved me a hour or so of frustration

 

well yeah its not necessary, but it is an easy task to do, and it makes things easier; it gives you more work space.

 

there is an article in the tech section that some one did the easy way from underneath and it works just did mine sunday. i am a big guy and i managed. just have patience and dont put the top screw back in when you are done. the easy way works for camaro or firebird. can be done. took me 2 hours the easy way btw!

 

there are always multiple ways of doing things. and i have heard of doing it "from underneath" but if you want all of the bolts to be replaced where they are suppose to go, and if you do not want to strain yourself by stuffing yourself under the dash... just drop the column.

its simple and it only took a little over an hour. and thats removal and install of column, dash and heater core.

besides y would u try a way that may be harder and find out you cant do it, for ex: "from underneath" , then restart and do it the way i suggested earlier.

but anyway, it doesnt matter. it you havent replaced your heater core by now...then u should just give up on life. haha jk

 

just do which way you think will work better. i almost pulled dash then got lazy and did other way. either way will get you results you need stop take action man. just do it. life will be better with one less monkey on your back

 

thanks dude!