Heater Core Replacment

I have done this replacement in other cars just wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks for replament in a 87 Vette......Any help is appreciated. Thanks

[JonM]

Here are some hints

http://home.comcast.net/~jamislow/c4heater01.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~jamislow/c4heater02.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~jamislow/c4heater03.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~jamislow/c4heater04.jpg

Not an easy job...take your time, and if you get fustrated...take a brake.

So are you saying this should be taken to the dealer ?

[Mr Dark]

The heater core on my '85 started to leak and I read the same articles posted here. I then took it to the dealer. It set me back a chunk of money, but I thought it was beyond my skill level (and patience level, too). I've heard some people on these boards claim that the part number for the heater core is #00000001, and the rest of the car was built around it. They may well be right! Good luck!

Great ! so how much should I expect to pay ?

[Mr Dark]

Are you sitting down? When all was said and done, I kissed about six bills goodbye. I didn't note your location, but what some of the people in the warmer climates do is to bypass the heater core entirely and just leave it in the car. In Minnesota, that's not an option.

Holy poopie !!!!!!! I live in utah. I never drive in the winter (much ) I might just do that and spend the $$ elsewhere......food for thought

[Mr Dark]

Mine is stored all winter, but I felt I needed it for those cool Spring and Fall days. As long as you can do without any defrosters, go for it. It's a lot of money to spend for something that should have been designed much better. Kind of like removing 800 parts from the car to replace a tail light bulb! Good luck!

Well you were right they want just under 6 bills to do it. I have a few other little things I want to correct in the areas where things will be removed so I guess I am going to tackle it. I just cant see spending 600 to replace a 40 dollar part. I hope I dont end up regreating this decision

[sothpaw]

Just want to add that my core (and this is a 93) blew twice now--
once when it was 6 years old, and now again at 10 1/2 years old.

I had it fixed once, cost me $300. But, not again. It gets cold here, but I'm just not going to put that kind of money in every four years for something I hardly use.

You can use the AC to clear up the fog, as long as it not frost.

[berky2500]

Replaced mine, first thing I had to fix on my car. It took 3.5 hours to get the dash apart and old one out. Heater core took 1 hour to install because the pipes were not bent at exactly the same angle as the original heater core. It took 1 hour to get the cover back on and sealed with foam, then 3 hours to hook up the rest of the heater hoses and controls and install the passenger crash pad and lower hush panel. 1 final hour to clean up all the tools I had got out.

Be prepared to spend a lot of time on your back. I had the passenger seat for other reasons, but it made it infinitely easier to work on the heater core. But it was definitely worth $600 to do it myself, if you don't decide to bypass it.

[69MyWay]

Is it leaking in the core, or at the heater valve on the firewall?

Either way, here is what I did.

My 85 -- years ago, blew the valve portion. I realized you had to replace the whole thing because of that...terrible design.

I found a replacement valve at the auto parts store that fits a front wheel drive 2.2 mid/late 80's chrysler product. I cut the valve off the line, and put the plastic replacment valve in line..and hooked the vacuum back up. Fixed for $10 and an hour or two messing around.

Now....consider this. If your core is ruptured, go ahead and yank it out, cut the valve, and save time removing it that way.

Have your core repaired at a local radiator shop. It might cost $25 or so. Get the valve from the store, and reassemble. Wrap the whole job up for under $50 and two weekends (one to tear it down and get the core out...over the week to get it repaired, and the next Saturday to slap it back together).


I did a core replacment in my 90 Vette. Let me promise you that the wrap around dash is 1,000 times more difficult to mess with than the 85.