Replacing heater core - Do I need gasket kit?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Cary Illinois
Replacing heater core - Do I need gasket kit?
Hey, all.
While I have my dash completely removed, I'm going to swap out the leaking heater core as suggested. Do I honestly need to order the "heater gasket kit" in order to successfully complete this job?
Thanks,
Q
While I have my dash completely removed, I'm going to swap out the leaking heater core as suggested. Do I honestly need to order the "heater gasket kit" in order to successfully complete this job?
Thanks,
Q
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 851
Likes: 10
From: Palm City, FL
Originally Posted by Q's 68
Hey, all.
While I have my dash completely removed, I'm going to swap out the leaking heater core as suggested. Do I honestly need to order the "heater gasket kit" in order to successfully complete this job?
Thanks,
Q
While I have my dash completely removed, I'm going to swap out the leaking heater core as suggested. Do I honestly need to order the "heater gasket kit" in order to successfully complete this job?
Thanks,
Q
I just took the old core out and replaced it with a new one reusing all of the other old parts.
I know other will disagree, but it worked fine for me.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 20
From: Central Michigan
A suggestion-Take the new core to a radiator shop and have the tubes resoldered and more material added where they enter the core body.
Bought mine from Corvette Central, and it didn't take much to tweak one of the tubes to where it leaked. Of course I found this out after I installed it(water running out the bottom of the heater case)
Fortunately there no carpeting or dash yet!
Cost about $30 for resoldering and pressure check
Bought mine from Corvette Central, and it didn't take much to tweak one of the tubes to where it leaked. Of course I found this out after I installed it(water running out the bottom of the heater case)
Fortunately there no carpeting or dash yet!
Cost about $30 for resoldering and pressure check
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 259
Likes: 2
From: Sacramento CA
You might want to even take it a step further and replace the seals on the air box and blend door. These cars don't pass a lot of air anyway and it helps to have everything fresh and tight. You can buy the seal kits for not too much. As I recall you will have to drill out a few rivets but I think it's worth the time if you are already in there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Originally Posted by RPOL68
You might want to even take it a step further and replace the seals on the air box and blend door. These cars don't pass a lot of air anyway and it helps to have everything fresh and tight. You can buy the seal kits for not too much. As I recall you will have to drill out a few rivets but I think it's worth the time if you are already in there.
I replaced the seals in my air box as well and am glad I did. The previous owner complained to me that the car was always hot when he drove it. I found out why: The blend door was stuck in the hot position. I freed it up and replaced the seals. I had to repair the metal tab that actuates the door with the cable control, due to the door being stuck open and the air control being forced into the closed position. I'll bet this is the reason half the "my c3 is hot when I drive it" complaints originate from.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 6
From: lancaster ma
Originally Posted by 682XLR8
A suggestion-Take the new core to a radiator shop and have the tubes resoldered and more material added where they enter the core body.
Bought mine from Corvette Central, and it didn't take much to tweak one of the tubes to where it leaked. Of course I found this out after I installed it(water running out the bottom of the heater case)
Fortunately there no carpeting or dash yet!
Cost about $30 for resoldering and pressure check
Bought mine from Corvette Central, and it didn't take much to tweak one of the tubes to where it leaked. Of course I found this out after I installed it(water running out the bottom of the heater case)
Fortunately there no carpeting or dash yet!
Cost about $30 for resoldering and pressure check
I soldered up my own and added a heavy copper wire across the pipes for added support. I used some Gasketing from the Home Depot. The catalog kits were pretty pricy and did not get good reviews for fit when I was replacing mine.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air MD
I've had my share of issues dealing with the heater core in my 70 BB.
It's a PITA to begin with since the extra long tubes mean you have to tilt the whole assembly when taking it out from the firewall. I also bought a core from Corvette Central which turned out to be weak around one of the supply tube solder joints. I returned it (after I had re-assembled the dash area, and had coolant leak all over), and they sent me a new one. Even though the new one was also made in Mexico, it was better built than the first one, and had been soldered together where the two tubes come close as they exit the core. This makes more sense since you are removing a potential stressor.
I also bought the new seal kit for the heater box, but ended up using just a couple of the gaskets, and mending the firewall gasket. So far everything seems to be working OK.
...........
It's a PITA to begin with since the extra long tubes mean you have to tilt the whole assembly when taking it out from the firewall. I also bought a core from Corvette Central which turned out to be weak around one of the supply tube solder joints. I returned it (after I had re-assembled the dash area, and had coolant leak all over), and they sent me a new one. Even though the new one was also made in Mexico, it was better built than the first one, and had been soldered together where the two tubes come close as they exit the core. This makes more sense since you are removing a potential stressor.
I also bought the new seal kit for the heater box, but ended up using just a couple of the gaskets, and mending the firewall gasket. So far everything seems to be working OK.
...........
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Cary Illinois
Ok, you've all talked me into it 
I was able to get the wiring under the dash cleaned up and rewound so it's coming along nicely. My birdcage is in excellent condition with no noticeable rusting of any type.
I was able to get the wiring under the dash cleaned up and rewound so it's coming along nicely. My birdcage is in excellent condition with no noticeable rusting of any type.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 246
From: Morgan City Louisiana
Does anyone have any pics or can offer a quick tutorial on how to get the heater box out? I have all my dash panels out right now and am about to attempt a heater core replacment. While im in there i'd like to put in a new seal kit. Just need to know how to get the bugger out 
Look how much fun i'm having
Look how much fun i'm having
Last edited by 69 Vette; Dec 28, 2006 at 09:57 PM.