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C3 heater core replacement

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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 06:06 PM
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Default C3 heater core replacement

I am going to look at a 1969 Corvette this weekend and the seller told me that the car's heater core is bypassed and has been since he's owned it (16 years). How big of a deal is it to replace the heater core in a C3 and will having had it bypassed for so long affect anything else?

Thanks,

Dave
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 06:18 PM
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I've never personally done it, but I have read enough complaining on this forum to know I never want to. Do a search for heater core...
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 06:32 PM
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Depends if the car is air...if so, it's not a job I would want to do, if not, it's a piece of cake.

The core is shot if not used in 16 years, probably bypassed because it leaked.

If you do buy the car, take the core to a radiator shop and have it recored, cheaper than buying one and not then struggling to make it fit.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 08:45 PM
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I did the heater core on my '72, but it has no air, and wasn't too bad. they only cost about $55 new.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 08:49 PM
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This car doesn't have AC; the owner told me that the entire dash has to come out to access the heater core; is that true?
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 09:55 PM
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The right side dash and the center guage bezel have to come out. Unfortunately there is no other way to get to it. The heater core sits behind your radio and has 2 pipes that go thru the firewall. I believe it has top be accessed from inside the car hence remove the dash.

No heater core no heat. but other than that there is no problem running hoses bypassing the core. The flow of coolant is in one pipe thru the core and out the other to return to the radiator. Hook both hoses together and the core is bypassed no problem.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 10:13 PM
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On cars with AC, you need to go through the dash. Time consuming job, but not very difficult. Did this job on my previous Vette several years ago - 71 coupe with AC. I've heard of people being able to remove/replace the heater core from the engine bay on cars without AC.
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 01:46 AM
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remove the heater box from the firewall to access the heater core. There is no need to remove the dash and the console
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Old Apr 20, 2006 | 04:18 AM
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Take it out through the firewall. Less than two hours.



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