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Old May 25, 2006 | 10:19 PM
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Default Ran into a problem.....

I took out my passanger carpet, noticed a puddle, thought it was nothing so i just cleaned and scraped out the floor pan and all around. Then I spray painted it with Rustoliom paint, and used rust stopper primer. Let it dry.
Next day i walk out, and theres a puddle of Green fluid. I look and i havea small leak of Green fluid, Coolent maybe??. I am guessing that it is my heater core.
So this weekend after im done work, i get to come home and TAKE APART MY WHOLE INTERIOR, and dash just to get to my heater core.....

Now i will have pictures of corse, But has any one ever replaced there heater core how much of a job is it.

Good thing i spotted this though, It would of been a real problem if i layed my new carpet just to find i have a leak that just ruined it. I dont like how i have to fix this, and take apart my whole dashboard, but im glad i found it just in time.


Let me know if you haev any experience with heater cores, and your blower fan.
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Old May 25, 2006 | 10:41 PM
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Sad to say the green fluid is coolant. I've never had to replace my heater core but have heard that they're a real PITA.
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Old May 25, 2006 | 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by marshrat99
Sad to say the green fluid is coolant. I've never had to replace my heater core but have heard that they're a real PITA.

Had mine replaced last Sept...had the same symptons. Took it to Corvettes of Dallas to have the heater core replaced. They did a great job! I recommend you have it done professionally....definitely a PITA!!!

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Old May 25, 2006 | 11:45 PM
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must be a problem with the later C3s. me and my dad installed the heater core in about an hour, hour and a half max. took off the map pocket cover, bolted the heatre core upto the firewall, connected some hoses and cables and thats all there was.

word of advice, sitting as a passenger in a car with out a heater core or dash pads its a TON of fun. nothing like haveing 120+ degree heat blow directly on you, along with road grime and other crap comeing flying out of the hole at you.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 08:12 AM
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If your car doesn't have A/C you can do it in a couple hours without taking the whole dash apart.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 10:07 AM
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Just did mine a couple of weeks ago. If you have air, it's not an hour and half job. It may be possible in a couple of hours if you've done it in the past. It's definitely at least a six-pack job.
Order in all the parts you'll need so that you can complete the job over a weekend. One thing I didn't have was the seals for the air conditioning ducts, basically foam adhesive strips. I would also consider changing the heater hoses if they haven't been changed for a long time. Mine were the original ones from 1976 so that was a no brainer.
As for removing it, unhook the heater hoses. My clamps were tucked up and a little hard to remove. Then start disassembling the interior, ducts, vacuum lines, ect. You'll get to a point where the box will come out. Installing the items actually goes a little quicker.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 10:15 AM
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Here in FL I don't need a heater, mine is bypassed so it doesn't leak

A/C would be nice though.....

Are you planning on driving the car in the winter ? Remember that the exhaust heats the interior very well. You can always install a new heater later when you have the $$ .....
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Old May 26, 2006 | 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by mandm1200
....It's definitely at least a six-pack job....

Sippin' slow.
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Old May 26, 2006 | 10:42 AM
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Its not hard. Just remember there is one bolt up high on the firewall in the engine compartment. I think two on the inside.

Other hassell is the the two hoses that attach to the bottom of the core. If they have never been off they may not want to come loose. I cut mine off just where the attach to the core. I replaced those two hoses.

Once you have the ducts,lines and hoses disconnected. the box comes off with a turning motion. Open the box to get at the core.

One thing I didn't do is clean the area the blower motor is in. I probably should habe lubed that.

Jim
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Old May 26, 2006 | 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Star79
If your car doesn't have A/C you can do it in a couple hours without taking the whole dash apart.
ITs an a/c car.... Thankfully. As for planing of driving in the winter OFCORSE. Its my first car its going to be my daily driver. Up in pa we have all weather, from below 0 to over 100....... Mainly stays around 20's-80s though. But yes it is my daily driver once i get my licence.

I will tackle this job most likely Monday or sunday. Ill have pics ready. Hmm a six pack sounds very nice to do this job though. Seems it would make it go easier/more fun. Does anyone have pics of this job? or no
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Old May 26, 2006 | 04:09 PM
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Good luck! You might want to make that a 12 pack so you can coax some help over
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