Brcmpbl

This just happened on a very hot day here in New Brunswick. I noticed some coolant on the garage floor and saw some condensation behind my passenger side floor mat. Stuck a finger back there and found a little coolant.

I've dreaded this day, for obvious reasons, but I think the thing is probably original so it was inevitable.

This comes at an extra bad time - I'm about to be away from the car for about a year, so I won't have the time to properly remove and replace the core. Can I drain the core and bypass it so it's not leaking while sitting in my garage this fall and winter? I have nice new GM reproduction hoses, etc., on there and I'd like to save those, or at least do something that can't be seen.

I looked at older threads on this, but I wanted to start my own. Thanks in advance.

Duntov

Should be able to bypass it. Connect the two hoses together. May want to get some of the plastic clamps to close it off before opening the system or you will need to drain the system or have it dump out. You may need to do it in front of the heater control valve as well.

news2me

A few years ago my core went. I picked up a bypass at the local parts house. I just removed the two heater hoses at the heater core, put the bypass into the hoses. Tighted up the clamps and I was good to go.

Peterbuilt

One heater hose is 5/8" and the other is 3/4".
If you disconnect the hoses at the core you can connect them together with an 'adapter' and not damage your hoses.
Or you can loop the 5/8" hose from the water pump to the manifold. That is a temporary fix which lets you drive a little more before you park it.

Brcmpbl

Thanks. I am hoping to drive it a little more before parking it. I'll look for the adapter.

Then I can have nightmares for a year about tearing my dash out next summer.

caskiguy

If it will make you feel better, it's not that "big of a job" to replace the heater core.

gerry72

Just unscrew the pipe nipple in the intake and the one in the water pump and put pipe plugs where the nipples were. Your total investment will be about two bucks. You can get super fancy and use hex-drive plugs for a flush fit or go to your local home improvement center's plumbing section and pay the two bucks for the pipe plugs. This takes the hoses completely out of the mix.

BKbroiler

This is the way to go. No bypass hose is needed.

Kacyc3

Big2Bird

That's a lot more effort than just connecting the two hoses together.IMHO

Brcmpbl

Thanks - it does give a little more confidence. My dash components are mostly original and in great shape - so I worry about damaging something when I dig in there. Never have been a big fan of going into the dash area for that reason.

Big2Bird

Just pop the hoses off the core, and install this between them.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...yABEgLr3fD_BwE

After you change the core, slip them back on.

TimAT

Or like we used to do way back there- steal the seat tube out of some kid's bicycle. Perfect fit.