I started the heater core swap today.
Two missions.
I hurt my HVAC function main vacuum feed hose. I need repair that. Who else has done that mission?
I have completed the heater core swap. I was able to wiggle behind the main dash support to access, remove & reinstall the heater core assembly. Now I need line up the behind the dash air vent plastic, fix that HVAC function selection vacuum hose, put back lots of screws.
In Los Angeles area, today, it was in mid 70's. By Weds. evening it'll be colder & damp with rain.
I'm on a mission.

 

thats not soo bad man, when i recently did the heater core in my 1995 gmc jimmy, i had to remove the whole dash!!!

I wish i would of had my camera handy, the dash sitting in my apartment parking lot must of been a sight.

 

I feel you on that one, I had it worse though. After gutting it like in your pic and reinstalling everything the replacement was bad! Second time is easier once the cussing and kicking is done!

 

Today is the HVAC hoses. I'm so pissed I screwed up those vacuum line feeds. I'd be done with the project already.
On those replaced cores that go bad.
Been there. Lost my first 1967 RS/SS350 Camaro Convert 4-speed engine that way. While racing. Won race, lost engine coolant due to core. Oh well.
I have to do my 1985 Blazer core again, too. Second time in about 10 years. That core replacement job is not so much fun, either.
It's now warm enough outside, I'll be back!
ONLY wish I had a new dash pad to reinstall!

 

I DID IT!
AT 1:45PM PST I GOT MY HVAC TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY & I GOT HEAT FROM MY CORE & I GOT TO REVERSE REMOVAL NOW SO I CAN GET DONE.
Before I wrap it up, I'm gonna repair my center console & repair radio wires so my speakers are all correct.
ONLY WISH I could install my gauge dash now & have it operate correctly! I still have that as a project, too!
I GOT HEAT & VENT FUNCTION BACK HURRAH!
BRING ON THE COLD!

 

is that a hint? I still haven't done the "pin outs" for the clusters between teh 85 & the 88 clusters. But I still have that rear seat foldown cover to get rid of too

Oh yeah, heater core replacement. one more thing to put on the list, and actually do it

 

Well, I will say this for ya, is it cold enough back there yet?
What a treat I got heat!
I'm now repairing my center console by JB Weld for the side separation. I am going to an upholsterer shortly but this is my one try for interior restortion.
Wish I had time to clean carpet.
Who has an idea for my dash?
It's cracked.
I haven't the money for a new one yet.
Anyone cover theirs in a layer of interior colored vinyl and make it look attractive?

 

I hope this console patch fix holds.
I really wish I could swap in the guages now!
I'm happy just to have heat & vents working right again.
Next is the tunes being better by rewiring the stereo speaker part.
Worse part today was getting the new hoses to line up properly, to the new core.
Rest of this mission is just cleaning up & replacing.
May even vacuum the interior if it's not raining.

 

Karl, did you see my fix for the vinyl? I made straps out of 1/8th inch thick, 1/2 inch wide steel strip stock (Home Depot), painted 'em wrinkle black, and bolted them to the sides of the console with screws- also painted the screws gloss black, but that was almost 10 years ago; most've the paint has flaked off. If ya dig up my steering-wheel-on-the-floor pic, you can see the strips in the picture.

A ton of work and measuring, but worked out great, and I don't have to worry about the sides ever peeling again!

 

Can you find the pic or pics and re post em???

 

MY JB WELD HELD!
Serious, I go the sides to stay.
Here is an after pic.
Right now I am patching one tiny vinyl crack. I will be repainting the vinyl console anyway. I wish I could do this JB Weld patch work to my dash board & have be as effective

 

Another view
I let this sit/cure for over 12 hours, overnight.

 

OK, the pics never loaded. Just saw the car torn apart too. Man don't you have that tan interior???

Did you even see what I did to some nasty grey carpet and a few cans of black spray paint???

I used Seal All to glue my lid back together and the one side that peeled on mine is held together by my remote bass boost ****. That and a bunch of tiny screws. My lid was really bad but went back together well. Its nice to have a lid that works instead of a big hole.

Lot of my plastic trim is put together with Seal All. Its kinda melts and bonds well. Never breaks where it was glued but in new spots. One around my radio is a jig saw puzzle from behind.

I love that Seal All crap, gas n oil resistant too.

 

I'm glad you got your core replaced and heater controls working again Karl, it sure can be a pain to go with out them! I just got done replacing the core in my 87 Camaro last night. It took me 3 hours and I replaced it using the under-the-dash method. That fourth screw up on top of the ducting is a pain in the butt to get out, but after I installed the new core I was crazy enough to put it back in! The most annoying part was getting the new core in, the pipes get in the way as does the trianglular section that sticks out from the core's plastic mounting bracket. I'm glad that's done though. I am going to be selling this Camaro soon so that I can buy a 1994 S10 Blazer with 82,000 miles on it. Problem is, on the way over from the auction, the Blazer was on a transport truck and some lady hit the median on the interstate then hit the driver's side rear quarter panel on the Blazer. The quarter panel, bumper, wheel, axle shaft, and mud flap all need to be replaced. The Blazer was immaculate before that. The previous owner (one owner) included maintenance records clear back to 124 miles, including part numbers for every part ever replaced, and even when it was waxed! I can't wait until it is back in shape!

 

i on't know if you found this already, but here's a thread on recovering the dash pad with vinyl.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=158542

hope that helps out a little.

jeff.

 

I checked out that thread & it's great except I cannot upload those pics in that response.
NOW MY DAMN IDIOT LIGHT FOR BATTERY IS ILLUMINATED! WHY WHY WHY This gives Wife ammunition for saying "Get Rid of IT!"
Damn car is warm inside, tho, & the center console is all better, too!
Radio sounds great, all speakers output is proper & balanced & clear.
WHY IS DAMN IDIOT LIGHT FOR BATTERY IS ILLUMINATED?
WHYWHYWHY!

 

And the actual voltage is?...........................

 

Yesterday, all my troubles....
Bad Alternator
11.93 instead of 14.4 volts.
Peak amps was 9.7 instead of 15.2
Output was nil.
Replaced by me for free under warranty.
Atleast I now know I have functioning idiot light for alternator.
The alternator light is now out & that problem is solved.
MAYBE I can make it to Phoenix right now!
I mean like by next week!
One new front tire & one good spare tire to go!

 

Yeah i was gonna say, didn't you just replace that alternator a few months ago? Gotta love the lifetime warranty! Glad to hear the repair on the console worked out- you used JB Weld? I never thought of that; I had used an epoxy. Cool!

Gumby, you're gonna make ME do the <a href="search.php?s="><img src="images/top_search.gif" alt="Search" border="0"></a> for ya?? Sheesh!

But since I'm in a good mood (just got home from work and got a big fat sub and a beer and then I'm passing out asleep!), the pictures are here: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...+ignition+lock The first pick with the wheel on the ground is where you can see the console. And if you look closely at the next pic with the ignition cylinder out, you can see the screws on the side of the radio console.

Unfortunately those screws used to be gloss black, not paint-peeled-away chrome. Damn how the hell did I have so much energy when I was fresh outta high school?? Now I get a headache just thinking about doing any "maintenance" work on the car.

 

I search for them Tom but when you said there were in the "steering-wheel-on-the-floor pic" thread I thought you meant the thread or pics were named like that.

steering-wheel-on-the-floor pic

Of course I didn't find anything.

 

What the heck kind of dash do you have in that car???

I have never seen one like yours. I got an 86 too.

you got two big holes and 12 little ones???

<img src="https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/attachment.php?s=&postid=1160617">

mine has 4 big holes.

Is there something in each of them 12 holes???

 

that's the idiot light dash. inda crazy don'tcha think

 

That is a dash cover with all the holes is for the idiot light gauge package.
Lights in each hole?
I forget.
Yes, JB Weld & letting it cure for a LONG TIME seem to have held this separating console side together. I was pretty generous with the JB Wled, also.

 

(laughs) Sorry about my misleading "search for this" message! I probably would've read that and done the same kinda search.

Yep it's the idiot light dash... left gauge is speed (max 85 although I've spun it backwards a few times ), right is fuel. Every chick that's been in my car has thought it's looked cool, so who am I to argue? Plus I think I like the added-on-gauges look better... reminds me of an old car with just speedometer & gas that someone turned into a hot rod.

Lights that come on for me are SES, brake, alternator. Lights I disabled are oil pressure and water temperature. Lights that are there, but weren't meant for me to use, are choke and upshift. I don't think there's anything in the 5 holes left over; that'd be the bottom five counting from the passenger side of the car.

One day that upshift light will get converted into a shift light... when I get some energy.

 

Heh, I always kind of wondered why my car had a choke light... Not that it ever came on, but it's just kinda weird that it's there.

 

That choke light is also "part" of emission package for 1982-84 V6 (w/carb) & other V8 & carb engine packages.
In my 85 I had that multi hole item. I now have the 4 hole Trans Am gauge cover installed in readiness for the guage package set up in future.
My 1968 Firebird 400/TH400 was same interior gauge set up. Just a 160MPH speedo, Gas Gauge (which moved as fast as tachometer anyway!) & effective idiot lights.
I LOVED THAT FIREBIRD, wish I could track it down in Canada where it went.

 

Drove today in the rain & Chill of Los Angeles
OH THE JOYS OF A PROPER OPERATING HEATER/DEFROSTER SYSTEM!
It was warmer inside my Firebird than inside my home
AND I LOVED IT!

 

Damn karl.. had fun ripping crap up? If you think thats bad.. try a fox body one day!

 

ALRIGHTS GRAEME
WHERE YA AT!?!?
I'll be right over
Damn was just thinking of ya other day & hoping all is well
Good to hear from ya...
Be seeing ya? Ya in LA,CA?