When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So the new to me 74 Stingray that I brought home this weekend decided to leave me a welcome home gift last night.
Took her to the Motor V and came back to find coolant on the passenger floorboard. Removed the carpet and dried the floor out.
Question is, how difficult is the heater core to replace on these cars with some mechanical knowledge?
Also, does the fact that the car has AC make it more difficult for me to do the work?
Any suggestions or passage of knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
The short answer is that yes it is possible for one person to do this task working in your garage but it is not easy or fun. I did this on my AC 74' several years ago and it took about 8 hours to get the heater core out and about another 8 to get it back together. On AC cars you cannot get to the core via the engine compartment and all work is done from the passenger compartment (except for one bolt that is removed from the firewall on the engine compt side). AC makes the task more complicated since you will need to remove most of the plastic AC ductwork during disassembly. I found several detailed posts on line (don't remember if here or on the NCRS site) that discuss the process with pictures. A couple of suggestions: 1)You will need some seals - get a kit of them from Dr. Rebuild 2) have your replacement heater core pressure tested at a radiator shop - my replacement did not leak but the solder joints were poor and he re-soldered them for me - bottom line - once you do this task you will not want to ever do it again so be sure the heater core you are installing is good
Current state of the vette. Spent about an hour and half on it after work today. Man that center gauge area was a pita!! Not bad for today, need to order the new core and gaskets and hopefully will be back on the road this weekend.
Center console area Passenger side
Last edited by Joseph Koski; Feb 27, 2018 at 06:59 PM.
I took my heater core to a local radiator shop he repaired it no problem. It's still an original GM part, with no worry about fitment issues with replacement parts.
I took my heater core to a local radiator shop he repaired it no problem. It's still an original GM part, with no worry about fitment issues with replacement parts.
Rick
When I replaced the heater core in my '79 years ago, I kept the original part. The difference in quality between the original and the replacement was obvious. If I ever have to replace it again, I'm going to investigate having the original repaired unless someone starts making a quality replacement.
74 Heater core Replacement
