Well guys, the car is running like a top. We'll finish adjusting the valve lifters tonight, and the car may be able to be street worthy tommorrow, if I can figure out this (hopefully) last problem. Upon starting it up the other night, we thought we saw coolant leaking. After putting in a new fan swith to get the fan in the car working, I let it run yesterday before work. Sure enough, coolant is leaking. I found out today after putting it back in teh air that the coolant is leaking from the heater box, right down the firewall. Please tell me there is an easy fix to all this. Do I need to buy a whole new heater box, or can I just put a new gasket or some sealer on what I have? It's barely dripping out, but it is enough that over time I'd run out of coolant. Thanks for any help, you guys are great for the 18 yr old backyard mechanic!

BTW, What temp is the fan supposed to come one at? I have the LG4 5-spd combo in a base firebird with a single electric fan set up. It works fine when I switch the a/c on, but it doesn't seem to come on without that.

 

Check where the hoses are coming into the heater core .
Make sure the clamp is resting on the lip of the metal tube.
It might not be setting on it properly, also if you need a new heater core its not that hard. They cost about $27 in the store and take a couple hrs to replace.


Dynodan

 

I forgot to mention I have A/C as well. I'd rather not take the box off if I don't need to because I don't want to disconnect the A/C line with the R-12 in it.

 

To replace the heater core, I have to pull apart the dash, correct? I began to pull it apart tonight, and between supper and the fact that the dash is rivited in, I stopped. Can someone help me with a procedure to pull out the heater core and put a new one in? I want this car back on the road so badly.

 

I had to do this on my '87 Camaro and it isn't as bad as most people make it out to be. There's no need to remove the dash, just take off the top pad, then remove the bolts holding the dash in on the passenger side and pull the dash out a few inches so you can reach behind to remove the little screws holding the heater box together ... the top screw is hellish unless you have arms like a spider monkey, heh. This repair is well-documented on the board, seach and it'll come up. BTW, if you're in a big hurry to drive the car, just bypass the heater core until you have time to do the job [here in Hawaii I put it off for three years].

 

I'd just bypass it, but with living in New England, I kinda need it. If it gets cold and rains I can't see crap without the defroster, so I have to fix it before it goes on the road. Thanks for your help. I don't have arms like a spider monkey, more like a gorilla, but hey, I'll make it work. :-) Again, thanks for your help.

 

Problem fixed. Stupid me didn't tighten up the hose going to the heater core enough, and thats what was leaking. Didn't have to replace anything. Now onto the headlight problem. :-)