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Heater Core Replacement

TURBO1

TURBO1

Super Cool Member
Well, lucky me, looks like my heater core is seeping :censor: Not that I really need heat out here in AZ anyway. But, it will bother me till its fixed right. I have not done one yet on an G.M F-Body!!! But I have on other makes/models. Any tips or tricks and/or short cuts thats not listed in the service manual & still do a quality job? Thanks for any advise!!!!!
 
To start temporarily I would loop the feed and return hoses to get the heater core out of the system to keep it from leaking any more than it already has.

To remove the heater core I'd suggest getting the GM 1989 Firebird Manual (the thick one) if you don't already have it. You're going to have to remove the dashpad, lower kick panel, and a couple things behind the dash to get to it. Now the manual is going to say you need to pull the entire dash, I was able to do it without adding on the 8 hours to pull and reinstall the dash. There is one screw on the top all the way to the left when looking forward which is the one reason it says you need to remove the dash. With the right combination of swivels, extensions, and possibly a flexible extension I was able to get it out. Putting it back in was a royal pain and took about 30 minutes just for that one screw, but I'd rather spend that time then struggle with the dash. I was able to do it all myself and it took about 6 hours if I remember right including taking some breaks during the job.

Hope that helps, I don't really remember a whole lot of the details since I changed mine about 4 years ago. I was able to find some helpful info on thirdgen.org when I did it though, that's where I found out you could change it without removing the dash.
 
Wow, you are lucky. That job is a royal pain. I changed mine in my GTA. I didn't remove the dash either, just had my dad pull it out a bit while I undid bolts for the heater core. Watch out for flaps, you don't wanna bend those. And I broke the little pot metal thing that holds the rod/cable that changes the heater control from hot to cold, and opening/closing a flap. That little thing cost me 200 bucks to get another, cause I had to buy a whole heater box assembly!!!! Ahhh....

Good luck on your project.
 
I wimped out big time,
And had a local shop I trusted, do the work.
Can't remember the price right off hand, and the paperwork is buried somewhere, but I can try and look for it.
But that was a few years ago, so I know prices will be more now.

:beach:
 
Cool, thanks for the tips & advise. Either way I look at it, its going to be eventfull. I was more worried, I would have to recover the A/C system.
:goodposting:
 
Take your time with it and plan on spending an entire day, with some help from a friend. I didn't pull the entire dash but you end up pulling the passenger side about 6" away from the firewall. To do this you end up pulling the passenger seat, center console, etc. Make sure to handle the new core CAREFULLY! The tubes on the new one I got didn't line up with the holes in the firewall. I was able to get it to work but if you tweak them the wrong way trying to get them in you could end up breaking the soldered joint and creating a leak all over again!

And have a few cold ones on hand as you curse the designers who dreamt this up! :cheers:
 
Turbota6 said:
Take your time with it and plan on spending an entire day, with some help from a friend. I didn't pull the entire dash but you end up pulling the passenger side about 6" away from the firewall. To do this you end up pulling the passenger seat, center console, etc. Make sure to handle the new core CAREFULLY! The tubes on the new one I got didn't line up with the holes in the firewall. I was able to get it to work but if you tweak them the wrong way trying to get them in you could end up breaking the soldered joint and creating a leak all over again!

And have a few cold ones on hand as you curse the designers who dreamt this up! :cheers:
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I was able to change mine out without having to move the dash or center console, I think I removed the passenger seat just to gain some room moving around in the footwell area.

I agree with cursing the designers, I dunno where the auto companies get some of these engineers. It's like having to lift the motor to change spark plugs on the lt1, pull the upper intake to change the spark plugs on a 3000GT, and I believe it's easier to just drop the whole subframe on anything with a 4V ford motor to do just about anything.
 
Re: Heater Core Replacement is DONE

Well, I replaced the heater core in the TTA yesterday, I was expecting this to be a nightmare & a pain the !@#$, from what everyone said. Turns out, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had the heater core out of the car
in about an hour taking my time doing it, with out removing the dash, center console or seats. I had more trouble trying to remove the hoses with out tearing them, than removing the core. The only part I needed some help on was guiding the new core back threw the firewall holes, other than that, it wasn't too bad to do. Anybody can do this job if your a little mechanically inclined w/some basic hand tools. I took a few pictures w/my camera phone along the way to show, you don't have to remove everything. Let me know what you guys think!!
 
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Re: Heater Core Replacement is DONE

TURBO1 said:
Well, I replaced the heater core in the TTA yesterday, I was expecting this to be a nightmare & a pain the !@#$, from what everyone said. Turns out, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had the heater core out of the car
in about an hour taking my time doing it, with out removing the dash, center console or seats. I had more trouble trying to remove the hoses with out tearing them, than removing the core. The only part I needed some help on was guiding the new core back threw the firewall holes, other than that, it wasn't too bad to do. Anybody can do this job if your a little mechanically inclined w/some basic hand tools. I took a few pictures w/my camera phone along the way to show, you don't have to remove everything. Let me know what you guys think!!
Click to expand...
Good job,I bet it feels good to be done. You did it the same way Idid my daughters 91 Formula. It's not as bad as it looks. I like to practice on my kids cars first.lol
 
Yeah, the heater hoses are a real PITA. Luckily I had spares and decided to sacrifice the originals after struggling with them for a while. Pulling the seat is just a personal preference. If you're 6'3" like me you pull the seat or kick yourself in the arse later for not doing it!
 
It does feel good to have it done, I would definitely do another one, now that I know how it comes apart. I planed on taking the entire day to do it, thinking I was going to pull the dash, console, etc. I used a 1/4 inch drive ratchet, long 6" extension & a 7mm swivel socket, to get to the hard to reach areas & it worked great. Since, I finished early with the heater core, I flushed the cooling system & changed the rear diff. fluid w/ Mobil-1 gear oil & G.M. limited slip additive.

On the road test, checking everything, it was the first time, taking it up to full boost w/the new TTchip & injectors. There is some turbo lag from a stop till about 2800-3000rpm (Has a TA-49 & stock converter) then it starts putting you back in the seat while its accelerating very quickly.

All in all, it was a good day & got alot done, with no issues or anything breaking in the process of replacing other stuff. On to the next!!!
 
good to hear you didn't break anything, I did and it cost more to replace the plastic peice I broke than the heater core itself!!! UGH....
 
TURBO1 said:
It does feel good to have it done, I would definitely do another one, now that I know how it comes apart.
Click to expand...

Want to do mine ? If you're in the Chicago area soon look me up !! -lol
I also need to do this, the previous owner disconnected the heater core and just looped a hose like mentioned above.
100_0720.jpg


Glad to hear everything went well. I'm still not looking forward to it but after reading your post I feel a little bit better about it.
 
nickD said:
Want to do mine ? If you're in the Chicago area soon look me up !! -lol


Glad to hear everything went well. I'm still not looking forward to it but after reading your post I feel a little bit better about it.
Click to expand...

Hey Nick, If I was in the Chicago area, I would definitely help you out.

I almost forgot to mention, I used a GM/AC Delco Heater core, I was told by the dealer that the OEM ones were discontinued as of 01/09. So, if you want a GM/ AC Delco heater core, I would get one soon, before the prices go up, or they get hard to find, unless you go after market. I picked mine up off Amazon.com about $45-ish & free shipping.
 
Hi Nick,
The Heater Core is an AC Delco # 15-63327
Amazon had it for $46.54 & free shipping!!!
Let me know if you can't find it & I'll send a link if its still there. Thanks!!!
 
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