Post by: spike on September 21, 2008, 21:49:25
while you let the coolant drain you can tear into the interior.
i started with taking the kick panel off. after thats off you can take out the two 7/16 bolts (top one holds the bottom of the dash in and the bottom one has the ground wire for the blower motor)
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics049.jpg)
this nut has to be takin off i bielive its 7/16 but mine came off with my fingers as i never tightend it
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics051.jpg)
gotta take the dash bezel off to get at some hiddin bolts
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics053.jpg)
after thats off theres a 5/16 bolt above the ashtray
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics055.jpg)
theres two or three screws that hold the rightside of the drivers bottom half on, take them out and then remove the mirror remote.
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics054.jpg)
pull the three 5/16 bolts out of the bottom of the dash under the glove box
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics058.jpg)
theres two philips screws under the dash at about the middle that hold the two halfs together, as you can see i use one screw as a ground
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics057.jpg)
i pulled the glove box out for better access to the wires
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics060.jpg)
gotta pull both these bolts out. the black one holds the top of the dash on and the silver one holds the bottom half
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics056.jpg)
gotta pull the whole top of the dash off. theres four 5/16 bolts along the windshield in the defrost vents, a 5/16 bolt by the headlight switch, and a 5/16 bolt by the radio
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics061.jpg)
Post by: spike on September 21, 2008, 22:07:53
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics062.jpg)
after the bottom is off you can start disconnecting vacumm hoses (i mainly took these pics so i can remember what color goes where :D)
this pic you can see there was a valve of some sort here, theres two wires goin to it so i had to remove it to remove the heater box, again, two 5/16 bolts
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics064.jpg)
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics065.jpg)
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics066.jpg)
also found the mouse nest, the brace has to be takin off also, you can just remove the top nut (7/16)
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics050.jpg)
this brace also has to come off. two 3/8 nuts
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics063.jpg)
there is four studs that go through the firewall with 7/16 nuts, a deep socket is required. theres 1 behind the wash bottle, 1 by the exhaust manifold, 1 by the voltage regulator, and 1 by the heater hose.
after those are off the heater box can be removed from the car, look at all the room, i was thinkin of leavin it out lol
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics071.jpg)
here is the top of the heater box, its hard to see but i dotted the heads of all 19 5/16 bolts so you can see where they are located
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics067.jpg)
then you gotta remove this dealy thing that controls the door inside
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics074.jpg)
and under that is this washer that has to come off
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics073.jpg)
heres the only pic i took with the top off (thought i had another one but i guess i forgot). here it is with the heater core out and i did myself a favor and removed the a/c core thing
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics070.jpg)
to remove the heater core from the box theres just one 5/16 bolt that holds it on and it just slides out
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics072.jpg)
then i got pissed, the new heater core didnt fit, but luckily mine wasnt shot (coolant was leaking from the hoses and inside the car :doh
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics068.jpg)
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s115/spikekid999/heater%20core/pics069.jpg)
Post by: spike on September 21, 2008, 22:11:35
Post by: Ice Cold on September 22, 2008, 15:28:04
It really doesn't look like a fun job.
Post by: spike on September 22, 2008, 15:32:38
Post by: Reggie on September 22, 2008, 15:42:37
Post by: spike on September 22, 2008, 19:12:09
i was puttin it back together today and that was more of a [Edited by Farley's] puttin it in then it was takin it out. and the thing where all the vacumm hoses go into started breakin apart on me so im siliconin it back together,,,, in other words, i aint doin this again
Post by: CTDMike on September 22, 2008, 19:53:34
Changing out the core itself is simple, hard part is getting the whole heater box assembly out & all the maneuvering, vacuum hoses.
Post by: spike on September 22, 2008, 21:37:29
Post by: Reggie on September 23, 2008, 10:10:34
it actually wasnt bad taking the heater box out, its just putting the heater box back in thats the hard part. cuz you gotta run vacuum hoses and wireing behind it kinda, then you gotta try lineing up the 4 studs, the heater core tubes, and the drain deal blindly since you cant exactly see behind the heater box to line it all up with the holes in the firewall
You could tie a nylon string to each bolt and feed the string through each bolt hole. It would be better with a buddy to help line it up. - RR
Post by: Reggie on September 23, 2008, 12:38:00
yup the core itself was too big and the tubes were to tall :rant: :rant:
What was the part number on the box? I wonder if they gave you the wrong part or are they selling the wrong cores as the correct replacement parts...?? - RR
Post by: spike on September 23, 2008, 12:53:59
Post by: Zach on March 31, 2009, 20:02:22
This deserves to be in the library if it isn't already :D
Post by: Reggie on March 31, 2009, 20:16:30
I know this is a old post and topic, but I just used this tutorial and it took me all of 45 minutes to get everything out.. You hit the head of the nail square on :thumb: you were even right down to the number of bolts :brow: :cool: 8) :p :biggrin:
Yeah, I know. Excellent thread posted by Spike. :worship: I've been dragging my feet of late. :roll: :D - RR
Post by: spike on March 31, 2009, 20:17:29
now start liftin your feet reggie n update the library :p
Post by: Barkfin on July 29, 2017, 14:19:03
Now it's 2017 and the photos don't work any more, any way to update that?
Post by: Ice Cold on July 29, 2017, 15:03:34
Hi guys -It's Photo-Fark-It.
Now it's 2017 and the photos don't work any more, any way to update that?
They want money now or no pics from them.
Post by: Barkfin on July 31, 2017, 00:29:58
Also, it got kinked over from pushing too hard towards "cold" on the left. Sigh... :whist:
So I grabbed it with pliers and was working it in & out with some tri-lube to try to get some mobility, but it wound up breaking. Ruined.
Anyway I heard there was an '85 Caravelle at the junkyard, so I went there and surprise! All the same heater control guts in the dash.
So I goofed around a couple hours - got me the replacement cable, that was nice - and eventually yanked out the whole heater core box and everything.
It's not that hard a job! Just takes awhile.
So my question for you guys: I checked on Rockauto.com and lined up some parts.
APDI 9010169 heater core $49.47 Cdn,
VDO PM247 blower motor $48.22 Cdn,
Roadmax C0046 1.75" lower rad hose for the 3-core truck radiator I found $4.51 Cdn.
Postage $16.15 to my place, total cost $118.35 Cdn.
This would give me a new heater core, a new blower, plus I'm going to lube up that slider cable with some lithium + graphite I suppose.
Would you blow $120 to refresh the heater on your car, even if the old one isn't necessarily broken yet?
I had a heater core blow once on a Challenger I used to have (terrible car), it had been 20 years old and now this Old Blue is up to 30 years old. I'm thinking it's possibly coming due.
Opinions .... ?
Plus maybe I'll post pics of the teardown / reassembly.
Post by: 80 Lebaron Coupe on July 31, 2017, 07:10:55
one tiny pin hole can leak all your Freon out.
Post by: Mike on July 31, 2017, 07:23:13
Post by: MarkM on July 31, 2017, 17:50:10
Has anyone done a heater core lately? THe last few people that did it the heater core didn't fit so well.
Per this forum, there is only one manufacturer of heater core for these cars and they're using the wrong dimensions. I pulled mine out and had it recored at a radiator shop. Didn't even mess with that offshore [Edited by Farley's].
Post by: Barkfin on August 01, 2017, 10:35:46
Maybe I should harvest that stuff from the junkyard then, I just dismantled it & left the pieces.
It was amazing to me, the 32 year old fan motor still spins freely. I was thinking "man, the new fan motors don't seem to last like this".
What do you guys think, maybe I should get my junkyard 3 core rad re-cored while I'm at it... ?
Post by: MarkM on August 01, 2017, 14:05:25
Hmm, really?
Maybe I should harvest that stuff from the junkyard then, I just dismantled it & left the pieces.
It was amazing to me, the 32 year old fan motor still spins freely. I was thinking "man, the new fan motors don't seem to last like this".
What do you guys think, maybe I should get my junkyard 3 core rad re-cored while I'm at it... ?
Getting the radiator re-cored will be more than the cost of a replacement radiator. Only reason why I did it with the heater core is because there is no replacement that would fit. I think I paid $250 to have it done.
If you need a radiator then get yourself a Champion CC374. You'll need to make a bracket on the driver's side to get it to fit, but from what you've posted in other threads it should be a cakewalk for you. The radiator is a three core aluminum one and I run it in mine. Cooled so well I kept it when I swapped in the big block.
Post by: Ice Cold on August 01, 2017, 16:27:11
Per this forum, there is only one manufacturer of heater core for these cars and they're using the wrong dimensions. I pulled mine out and had it recored at a radiator shop. Didn't even mess with that offshore [Edited by Farley's].This, just re core as the aftermarket 'all most fits', which is no good.
Post by: lsm360 on August 01, 2017, 16:56:17
Post by: lsm360 on August 01, 2017, 16:57:06
This, just re core as the aftermarket 'all most fits', which is no good.Can they even get cores for these anymore?
Post by: Ice Cold on August 01, 2017, 17:26:42
Can they even get cores for these anymore?They re core rads, so why not?
Post by: Mike on August 01, 2017, 18:08:43
Per this forum, there is only one manufacturer of heater core for these cars and they're using the wrong dimensions. I pulled mine out and had it recored at a radiator shop. Didn't even mess with that offshore [Edited by Farley's].
I had to do the same with a GM one a few years back. Went thru a couple new heater cores and they were all junk that were no where near fitting.
For the rad, I got the one for my truck re-cored because it's in your face when you open the hood and a plastic one would stick out.. With the Chrysler I dunno.... same GM as the heater core it's replacement rad is plastic but looks identical to stock. The truck one was anything but. maybe the car ones look better?
Post by: MarkM on August 01, 2017, 18:39:23
Can they even get cores for these anymore?
As of three years ago they could. I took it to a specialty radiator shop.
Post by: Barkfin on August 02, 2017, 00:59:54
Post by: lsm360 on August 02, 2017, 12:38:13
They re core rads, so why not?If they aren't making new ones that fit, maybe they don't have the cores, I don't know. I know the local radiator shop told me they can't get the cores anymore for AHB Radiators, only civis.
Post by: Mike on August 02, 2017, 17:34:10