Hey guys... I own a 1987 IROC with 350TPI. Recently my fan stopped working. I have been driving it on the cooler days as it does not exceed 90C. But now when I got home today I noticed I have coolant dripping from my passenger side. The box on the left is dripping. I attached a picture. Not only that but I cannot find any green coolant at the stores! Can I mix in a different colour? I believe my coolant is mixed with water 50/50 right now. I'm selling the car next week and I am going to get this cooling problem fixed before hand. Thanks alot guys.

 

the dripping is most likely to be the heater core leaking . As for the green coolant they sell stuff that will mix with any color , you (from what I have been told) can't mix dexcool (the pink stuff) with regular green stuff.

 

I agree it's the heater core. they do sell coolant that will mix with green.

 

Heater core replacement is a fairly involved job. Not too hard but it takes a lot of time. Probably the best way to replace the heater core is to pull the center console and dash for access to the heater core.. If your selling the car you might consider just removing the heater hoses and capping them to prevent any more coolant from leaking in the cabin. Then, tell the potential buyer of the problem. They'll appreciate your honesty and it could give you and the buyer a little wiggle room for negotiation on the price.

Good luck

 

HOLD UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The heater core can be replaced without removing the dash or console!

1. Disconnect battery and heaterhoses from the firewall.
2. Drain the coolant down a bit.
3. Remove hush panel (if equipped) on pass. side. and remove the cover
off the heater box on pass.side. Its held on by a few screws. The only
tough one is the screw on the top of the heater a/c box. Just feel around for it.
4. Pull off cover and there is the heater core and pull it out.
5. Install new core and reassemble in reverse order.

Not a bad job and ignore the "how to" removal method posted in the DIY
section elsewhere in this forum. WAY too hard doing it that way!

Been there and done that myself!

 

Sonjaab - help me out a little on the top screw. I've got the top deck pad off, the pass. side dash loose, and all of the heater core screws off my 91 Z28 'vert EXCEPT the one on top. I tried getting at it w/ a 1/4" rachet + 3" extension and a 7mm socket, but it doesn't seem to reach. Can you tell me exactly what you used to "feel around for it"? I would LOVE to skip the whole "remove the dash" process if at all possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

LIE.............Indeed that top screw is a bit*h to get at and remove. Since you
have the dash pad off you may have to remove the right side dash speaker and
drop the computer down out of its bracket to be able to get to the top screw.
I got mine out and didn't put it back in
when I finished. I didn't have to unbolt the whole dash from the body either !

Read this thread for hints on that PIA top screw: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cool...placement.html
or do a search here for heater core replacement for other hints!

 

Sonjaab - thanks for responding so quickly! I did indeed yank the passenger-side speaker (nice big hole!) but I wasn't able to see or feel for the top screw. Is the computer bolted just to the right of the heater core cover? If so, I pulled that too. Did you use a longer extension on your ratchet? I have a 3-inch, but I'm getting ready to go buy a longer one. I'd rather try that than pull the whole dash. I'm sooo darn close...(!) Again, any help is appreciated. LieutPonz.

 

may help to get another extension and a swivel joint. I just did this job in my 87 a couple weeks ago and was able to leave the dash in place. its all just about patience and flexibility.

 

Amen on that Dan!

LIE........I got my PIA top screw out by feeling around and getting LUCKY!
I can't exactly remember what I used to remove it either................
Like I said I got lucky!

Best I can tell ya is to do a search here and read the tricks others have used.

 

Thanks 1ADan and sonjaab. I'm hoping I get lucky too because pulling the whole dash (read: drop steering column) is not my idea of a fun afternoon. I have visions of a nice cool fall afternoon with the nice mellow rumble of my Z turning heads. Mmmmm....nice...:-) but have to get past this little bump in the road first...

 

 

To get the top screw back in I used a 1/4" ratchet and I believe a universal. I dropped the ECM down to do it.