some body please elaborate what the difference is. Bill
Heater Core- Non-AC '69
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Cruising
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Heater Core- Non-AC '69
Just replaced the heater core on my C3 and it was the easiest thing ever done to the car. Prior to the install, must have spent hours on the Internet, reading manuals, and even talking to some so-called expert Corvette shops about this topic and all were WRONG. All said to go through the interior (AC and non-AC), pull passenger panel, instrument cluster, ......
The easiest and fastest is engine compartment. Pull the air box from the firewall as a unit (including heater motor) and there it is!!!! There are six speed nuts that are very easy to get. The bottom one are simple from underneath the car.
These so called experts wanted to charge me $500 to $600 and all it cost me was $55 for the core, $25, for a gasket set, and about 45 minutes of my time.
The easiest and fastest is engine compartment. Pull the air box from the firewall as a unit (including heater motor) and there it is!!!! There are six speed nuts that are very easy to get. The bottom one are simple from underneath the car.
These so called experts wanted to charge me $500 to $600 and all it cost me was $55 for the core, $25, for a gasket set, and about 45 minutes of my time.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
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From: Ontario
Kudos to you for not listening to the "experts." I did that job twice on my non-A/C 1979.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/heatercore.html
My 1974 with A/C was a nightmare by comparison.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/heatercore.html
My 1974 with A/C was a nightmare by comparison.
Last edited by Paul L; Feb 8, 2009 at 08:08 AM.
Team Owner
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Nathan,
I'm a firm believer in following the GM Chassis Service Manual. BUT your way sure sounds good. I'm wondering why GM has you go from the inside since as Paul says getting the dash out is a nightmare.
Well Done!!!
Regards,
Alan
I'm a firm believer in following the GM Chassis Service Manual. BUT your way sure sounds good. I'm wondering why GM has you go from the inside since as Paul says getting the dash out is a nightmare.
Well Done!!!
Regards,
Alan
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
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From: Cameron Park CA
I too would like to know why they insisted we go from the inside. When I replaced mine years ago, I followed the GM Chassis Service Manual and it was a huge PITA. Next time, (I hope there isn't a next time, but...) I will definitely do it from the engine side. Thanks for the tip guys!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 365
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From: Glenview IL
When I did the heater core in my '68 (non- a/c), the 'experts' were saying the same thing.....go from the inside. After looking at the car for about 3 seconds, I realized that it would be so much easier to do it from the engine bay. Boy was I right (After seeing Paul74's pics).....like stated earlier, only took about 45 minutes to get it out and put the new one in. (that doesnt inlcude time spent in the basement cleaning the parts that I took off).
~Rich
~Rich
Tech Contributor
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Thanks for the information, Nathan. I've been putting off doing this for longer than I want to admit (and watching the dust pile grow higher on the replacement heater core box). I've got the engine out at the moment, so it looks like there's no better time than the present. Just for kicks, what's the story on the gasket set? Where did you get it, and is it something that can be made from off the shelf material?
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
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From: charlotte north carolina
the a/c boxes are different than the non-a/c. i remember when i installed factory a/c in my car, i started thinking about removing the evaporator and heater core from the engine side for future repairs. after seeing how the parts are assembled, i saw that it can't be done. i can't remember the exact details,but i believe it's the way the evaporator is installed in the box.
Thread Starter
Cruising
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Heater Core Infor from Nathan
Thanks for the information, Nathan. I've been putting off doing this for longer than I want to admit (and watching the dust pile grow higher on the replacement heater core box). I've got the engine out at the moment, so it looks like there's no better time than the present. Just for kicks, what's the story on the gasket set? Where did you get it, and is it something that can be made from off the shelf material?
Thanks,
Mike
Thanks,
Mike
If you go from the engine bay, the gasket set that you can purchase really is not necessary. When the box comes out, you will see an indention on the circumernce (sp) of the box after you clean the existing seal. The stuff the gasket set comes with is tape with about a quarter inch gooey black round subtance that you could purchase at an auto supply. Could even use plyable (sp) caulk from a gun. Where is spell check when you need it! Some once told me it was called dumb-dumb tape but have not heard that term since that. Don't waste $25 from Ecklers or other places for this gasket set unless you are going throug engine compartment.
Nathan
281 655-5643
Houston, Texas
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Cruising
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Heater Core
You know Alan, I bet removing a heater core on non-AC cars big block cars cannot be done via engine compartment, only a smll blocks. I guess the manuals are unilateral in methods of repairs. What do you think?
Safety Car
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From: Algonac Michigan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Baltimore MD
Guys i really need to know if its possible to pull the heater and evaporater from the engine side,i am doing away with the ac system and want to make more room in the engine compartment.I have the non ac panel with the fan on it to replace the ac panel.can they be cut out without doing much damage?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
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From: charlotte north carolina
the outer a/c box can be removed from the engine side (of course), but the heater core can not be removed from the engine side because the metal plate on the inner box that forms the mating surface to the firewall blocks the core's removal. also don't know if the vents will line up well enough for air flow. if you swap to a non a/c outer box, the opening in the firewall will have to be made smaller and the lower stud holes are on a different c/l dimension. don't know about the vaccum pots and diverter flapper control, but probably wouldn't be a big problem.
the bubba in me can think of three solutions. swap out the entire system with a non/a/c oem, get an after market system and still have a/c, or (here's the bubba) remove the evaporator core from the a/c outer a/c box and modify it with glass so that it simply passes air from the blower to the inner box.
the bubba in me can think of three solutions. swap out the entire system with a non/a/c oem, get an after market system and still have a/c, or (here's the bubba) remove the evaporator core from the a/c outer a/c box and modify it with glass so that it simply passes air from the blower to the inner box.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
the outer a/c box can be removed from the engine side (of course), but the heater core can not be removed from the engine side because the metal plate on the inner box that forms the mating surface to the firewall blocks the core's removal. also don't know if the vents will line up well enough for air flow. if you swap to a non a/c outer box, the opening in the firewall will have to be made smaller and the lower stud holes are on a different c/l dimension. don't know about the vaccum pots and diverter flapper control, but probably wouldn't be a big problem.
the bubba in me can think of three solutions. swap out the entire system with a non/a/c oem, get an after market system and still have a/c, or (here's the bubba) remove the evaporator core from the a/c outer a/c box and modify it with glass so that it simply passes air from the blower to the inner box.
the bubba in me can think of three solutions. swap out the entire system with a non/a/c oem, get an after market system and still have a/c, or (here's the bubba) remove the evaporator core from the a/c outer a/c box and modify it with glass so that it simply passes air from the blower to the inner box.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
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From: charlotte north carolina
the evaporator core is in the engine side air box. remove the evaporator core, cut the air box down leaving just enough for air passage from the blower and shape it the way you want, and glass over the hole you made. if you try to use a non a/c outer box, as i stated above, the air passages may not line-up properly and the firewall will have to be patched.
