I know this is ghetto as hell really i do but im out of options. its below 30 right now and they plan on it staying that way for the next week. my heater core is busted and i cant get to those top screws on the box i have a 91 bird. i dont have a gurage so im doing all this in the cold wich means i dont have time to remove the dash. i was wondering if i just unbolt the bottem and cut the box at the top would i be able to get the heater core out or do the top screws hold in the bracket like they do on a grandam?

Again i know its ghetto please dont flame me for it ill replace the cover with a non cut one in the summer.

 

Take the dash pad off.

Takes like, what, 5 minutes TOPS to do that? Not really worth going back in and doing the same job twice for.

 

i've taken the dash pad off once before to replace the speakers i dont remember it being open underneath it???

 

i was able to reach from underneath easier with a little wrench of that size, off top of head think its 6mm. find someone with a skinny arm

it took a bit but got it. i cant imagine trying to reach up there and cut it would be any easier.

 

Fortunately, that doesn't matter much.

It's open enough; at worst, you might have to take out the speaker or a duct.

 

id probably have to widen the speaker hole to get my arm down in it... does that pannel on the front of the dash where a glovebox would normally be come off? i have a feeling with that off it would be a straight shot back to the core.

 

Instead of sitting at your computer surfing the Net and making excuses for why it won't work, go give it a try. Conquer your fear of accomplishment. You might surprise yourself.

 

im actually working right now. they have me on this lame scheduel of 10-7 so its too dark when i get home and i have my daughter in the morning thats why i just wanted to cut it and be done with it.

 

if u have a bird (which you should have stated) then you could just remove that glove pouch thingy and youll have access to it. after you remove the 4 screws that hold that ducting on, remove it and you will see 2 screws holding on a metal piece, remove those 2 screws and jently pull out that metal piece (yes it comes out, only 2 screws hold it in there), then you can remove the plastic piece holding the core in. it has 4 screws, 2 are visible, and 2 are hidden in behind where that metal piece goes. after the 4 screws r out just jently wiggle the piece out (start by wiggling the piece at the left where it is clipped in, and the right side will easily fall off). you can then remove your hoses from the engine bay and remove the core. ive gotten good at it now, so it only takes me about 20 mins to replace the core.

 

He said he had a firebird in the first post dude

 

Having done this, the glove pouch makes it SO much easier.

 

lol i got a camaro, but the guy before me installed a 6disk cd changer and cut out the dash in that exact location. so all i have to do is reach in there and remove the screws, no need to remove the dash pad.

 

yea so how do i remove that little glove pouch thing i was trying to pry it out but it doesnt wanna move and i couldnt see any screws or anything holding it in

 

You aren't prying hard enough, it just pops out.

 

damn i was trying to get it out without breaking it but i guess if i do i can always just get another one so thats what im gonna be doing on my lunch break tomarrow i guess... thanks for the help guys i really didnt wanna cut that box if this works i wont have too.

 

Gumboots? sorry, had to.

Interesting, never new that panel popped out... Hmm, well I guess that means I can do my heater core easily, WHEN it fails..

 

and dont put the top screw back in

 

[QUOTE=Diggler86;3190380]i was able to reach from underneath easier with a little wrench of that size, off top of head think its 6mm.

It's 7mm btw. Just did mine about a week ago. There's 5 bolts that hold the cover/box assembly on, then 4 that hold the actual core in. Luckily I had a heated shop to do it in. I ended up taking the whole dash back and out of the way, but if I was working outside, I probably would've tried a couple of shortcuts too!

 

i just did 3 last saturday at the junkyard looking for the core support because i broke mine, both camaro and firebird were the same. are you sure you werent working on your 69?

 

Trust me, I remember each heater core replacement in detail since they're such a PITA. The 69 is a whole different ball of wax, but an equal PITA to do.

 

i tried to pry it off again i can slide a knife under the bottem but cant get the sides and the top to pop out??

 

well i got it off but thiers a solid plastic plate behind it that doesnt come out... so i would have to cut that out and i could get to the last bolt.

 

get a dremel with a cutting disk. 5 mins of work.

 

If you're talking about the plastic plate that holds the core itself, there's 4 more 7mm bolts that hold that piece in.