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Happy New Year All C3 subscribers...
I've had my 78 for 13 yrs and never had a need to use the heater..That being said instead of warming it up during the winter months in my garage I'd like to take out for a run now and then..
Since the PO has put shutoff valves on the heater hoses I am concerned that if I open them now and try the heater will I be looking fwd to leaks on the floor of the pax side footwell?
Any and all input etc is greatly appreciated and thanked in advance!!
JJ78
Why not open the valve and see if it leaks? Otherwise, take it all apart and have the core pressure tested.
CY-CYa,
Tx for the note and I thought about that very same thing but since I have very little mechanical savvy I'd be afraid that if there were leaks I would have no one in my area that I would trust to get into the heater box thing..
I deleted the heater hoses and fittings a few years ago. But I live in Queensland. never gets cold here and this isn't a daily driver.
But if it gets cold where you are. it's nice to have if even just for the defroster on a cold rainy day. I would open the valves and try it. if it starts to drip. shut it back off and clean up the mess. replacing the heater core is a big job. Not one you want to do if you don't have to.
lay down towels in passenger side floor just in case.. run in defrost and open valves after warm and smell and look for fogging of windshield.. none of the above drive it..
i use mine 25% of the time, no salt or rain/ snow..im out.. cheaper storage
If you have a non ac car changing the heater core is easy. You change from inside the engine compartment and as long as you can loosen nuts and remove clamps that is all the skill you need. This is if you find the heater core leaks. Video is a 74 but I did my 78 the same way non ac.
if it leaks, don't just shut it off. take both hoses off at the engine and blow the coolant back out of the heater. don't use compressed air. just blow it or use exhaust hose from shop vac. then do not reattach hoses. just put a loop or cap off the 2 fittings on the engine.or replace the 2 shutoff valves with new ones.
I bought a '76, sight unseen on eBay. When it arrived, the passenger side floor was moist, and I almost had a stroke, thinking it was a rotten bird cage or windshield frame. I rubbed my finger on the carpet and then tasted it, and thank heavens, it tasted sweet.
Luckily, where I live, I don't need a heater. Here's what I did to fix it, all I had to buy was a 5/8-3/4" hose adapter. I wouldn't change that core unless I absolutely had to. Even thinking about it gives me a headache.
I bought a '76, sight unseen on eBay. When it arrived, the passenger side floor was moist, and I almost had a stroke, thinking it was a rotten bird cage or windshield frame. I rubbed my finger on the carpet and then tasted it, and thank heavens, it tasted sweet.
Luckily, where I live, I don't need a heater. Here's what I did to fix it, all I had to buy was a 5/8-3/4" hose adapter. I wouldn't change that core unless I absolutely had to. Even thinking about it gives me a headache.
Mine looks just like that. I put a 3/4" nipple on the intake manifold so I wouldn't have to use the plastic transition. In my 80, I plugged the holes in the intake and water pump.
I just plugged my heater at the water pump and used the intake location for a sensor, never use the heat. I plan on just taking the core and duct out one of these days. I might throw a small electric heater / fan in the dash just for defrost if I did want to take a early spring / late fall cruise one morning. AC stuff went to recycling long ago too.
I have had my 76 for almost 25 years and I have never used the heater. About 20 years ago, I noticed the wet passenger floor. DOH!!! I removed the hose nipples on the water pump and intake I welded the ends of the nipples shut. Pressure tested the welds and reinstalled each nipple and the hoses. If you look under the hood - it looks stock which is important to me. Oh, and I've never had another wet passenger side floor.
Luckily, where I live, I don't need a heater. Here's what I did to fix it, all I had to buy was a 5/8-3/4" hose adapter. I wouldn't change that core unless I absolutely had to. Even thinking about it gives me a headache.
Although this does look fairly easy. I came up with a different low cost solution that I thought I would share.
A pipe plug in the intake manifold, painted red to match other underhood components. And a pipe plug in the water pump. And yes you can see the white Teflon tape. I guess a bit un tidy. I might need to revisit that.
Thought I should add a photo from a little further back. better comparison.
Op.. if it does leak just shut them off again and cut the hose for now after closed shut off valves to drain heater core..or the other ways mentioned if you didn’t want heat…..which you do.,
i am going out on a 10f crystal clear sunny dry day and the vette shines!!!
and i am comfortable in a sweatshirt..
for all the wranglings of heat issues in these cars it’s the perfect time to run hard!!!
Heater ? Use or Not use!!!!
