Found a nice puddle on my passenger floor today. I was thinkning like 40-50 for a new heater core but I was curious on the labor charges. How much time does it call for and how much u think labor cost will be?

 

The heater core should not cost you a lot of money. Around 30 to 40. You can pay a mechanic 1 or 2 hour labour or so or you can do it yourself in 45 min for free.

There is an article in the tech section of third gen on how to do it.

I know how you feel because mine started leaking one day after I put in a new heater hoses. Pulled the old hose too hard and it must have damaged the core somehow. It is aluminium and is very fragile when hot.

Good luck.

 

Heater core is $17.00 at Autozone.
I've been told that it should take no more than 1-2 hours to do yourself.
They say you can change the core with out taking the dash apart, you just remove the panel under the passenger side and gain access through there. I will be doing mine soon, it leaks just a little right now, but I don't want to wait till it really goes.

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Zepher
'86 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, LG4 305, 5 Speed, CF DF Clutch,
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I took some pics when I did mine. I paid $24 for the heater core.

Heater Core

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I did mine last summer. Make sure you check the unit in the auto parts store before you leave. I did so by chance and the new unit had corrosion on it. I refused to accept it and went elsewhere because the guy insisted it was new. Went to another store and got an everco unit that actually looked new with no corrsion. Cost was around 40. Make sure you get the molded hoses that connect the heater core to the metal pipes. They will be a pain to replace later. Most likely you will have to cut them off anyway.

If you have a shop vac, its worth you while to suck the coolant out of the core. The rest is going to be inside the car. Give yourself a day to get it done. I would remove the passengers seat for better access. There is one bolt on top of the plastic box that is difficult to get to. The rest requires patients.

Good luck

 

Gmtech that seems extremly complicated. It took me a 1/2 hour to do the deed. I just used 1/4 drive sockets and extensions on the bolts that were difficult to access. The only parts that neccesitated removal were the half of the air duct over the core and the kickpanel. I imagine it could take an hour drinking beer.

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82 z28 350cid, vortec heads, comp 262h cam, Holley 600cfm carb, 2in twice pipes, MSD ignition, turbo 350 trans, 3.73 posi, manly b&m megashifter

 

My heater core cost me $24.00@auto zone! Anyways if its your first time, (like it was mine) it took me about 3hrs because i was following a stupid haynes book. It had me take off about 20 things that i didn't need to. Follow the tech article here on the page, and it should take u about an hour. I know that next time this happens it shouldn't take longer then 30 min
-abe

 

Thanx for the help...w/ me and my dad it will prob take like 2 hrs

 

On the note of removing the passenger's seat, it could help, but it's probably more trouble than it's worth if you're agile enough to recline it flat and lay on it.. kinda cramped quarters, but as I said, if you're agile enough.. besides, it's a tradition. =P

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