I knew it was gonna be a pain to replace it. My 88 started to leak during the summer so I bypassed the heater core and put off the job till the weather cooled off a bit. So I have years of experience having worked as a mechanic at the dealerships long ago and currently have a shop full of everything known to man. BUT it's been some time since I've had to make this kind of major surgery and take apart the dash. They really went through a lot of trouble stuffing that heater core away and making it as difficult as they could.

Anyway, I have to go finish the task today and pull the heater core cover off. Fortunately, the replacement core was only $40 at O'Reillys and I hope it's the right one.

LOL!

 

Since you have an 88 you can use the "Fast guy method" that is on this board. Just search for it. The fast guy method is not available for the 90-96 C4 crowd and an entire dash removal method is required beyond a Sazinall. Just a tip before your start. Just did mine last winter.

 

When they built the 95 Vette they hang a heater core by a string, from the ceiling. Then they bolt everyting else together. As soon as they put the tires and wheels on they roll the car off the line and cut the string. To get it out you must dis-assemble the whole thing. I've never owned a car that you had to remove the rocker panel to change a battery but here I am.

 

FINALLY DONE!!!

After a lot of comments out loud in the shop, I just finished running the car checking for leaks. Whewwww I'm glad that's done.

Now all I need is a lot of Alieve for the tore up body parts from all that reaching to get at screws and having my arms look like pretzels.

 

Welcome to our world ! I'm in the midst of replacing the heater core on the '92 right now. Only problem is work is getting between the beginning and the end of the fix. Taking pics though. Glad I'm able to use my son's car while it's down.

I'm tring to analyze what I can do that's different from the '93's remove and replace of the same heater core, except the '93's is different than that the '92's Heating / AC system. '93's standard vs '92's auto system.

I can guarantee the '92's is going to be as much as a PIA as the '93's was.

I just finished the 93's re-assembly of the heater core the last part of a partial resto over the previous 2 yrs. I re-built all calipers and replaced rotors, replaced all ABS sensors, stainless steel brake lines front and rear, replaced all hubs, all U-joints on half shafts and driveshaft, new ball joints, inner and outer tie rods and ends, flush and replace all fluids throughout in brake sysem including ABS , cooling system, power steering, rebuilt transmission with shift kit, differential fluid change, a/c purge and recharge, new radiator, water pump, optispark, wires, removal and solvent cleaning of intake, new injectors, new valves and seats, new springs, cam, rockers, new head gaskets, intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets, all component were kept original and stock. Walnut blasting of firewall forward frame and components, sealing and repainting from fire wall forward.

It had only 262K+ miles on it and was ready for adoption to a good friend and owner. Have to see it again soon though. It's getting re-painted same Torch Red now, new windshield and gaskets and weather seal throughout. I have to finish the pioneer audio system install, including XM Sat. I volunteered to install instead of re-installing the old stock radio / cassette system as a favor to my bud.

 

I feel your pain! The heater core was one of the most pain in the butt repair that I've had to do to mine. But I was proud to get it all done within a Saturday.

 

After doing the heater core, and repairing all the bezels and replacing the screws, I was reminded of how many other things I should repair and replace to bring the car back to better than new condition.

I'm very excited to say that I'm waiting for a Forum Vendor to finish up a very good upgrade for the C4's to bring the electronics up to current generation of goodies and new bezels!

 

Care to elaborate?

 

Dennis who currently offers the Double Din bezel and packaged kits for the C5 has told me to hang on awhile cause he is working on the Double din bezel and kit for my C4. Then I can install the DVD/Navigation touchscreen audio head units and bring the C4 up to the current generation of electronics.

Woooo Hoooo!

 

What can you see if you remove the cover on the engine side? The core can not be far from there if the tubes are there. I do think the real problem with most cars is they are not designed to be maintained beyond the time the warrantee runs out after that it is the owners problem so there is an order of priority as to how likely they will have to change something. The less likely the less they care about the repair.

 

I was very lucky a number of years ago to have built 6 special vehicles from the ground up and designed everything to be accessible. Unfortunately most large organizations are not set up with that as a priority.

I learned that my C4 heater core is designed to only to be removed from the interior and if one decided to remove it from the engine side, mass destruction would take place with costly damage!

 

I'm getting ready to change mine on my 89. Did you use the Fastguy method? Or did you take your dash apart?
I'm going to try the Fastguy method myself....sure hope it works!!!

 

I didn't use the fastguy method. I simply followed the GM Service manual steps. Yes it's a pain to remove the support bar, or reach the breadloaf bracket screws. But I took my time and have all the tools to use so my labor rate time may not meet the GM flat rate. But I haven't had to wrench for a living at the Chevy dealership in a few decades.

Besides, laying on your back and working with your arms trying to do things backwards and upside down is very painful for my arms. The Fastguy method may work for some, but it's not my thing.

Doing it the GM way is fustrating at best, but it is the most recommended procedure from years of them doing it. Besides it gives you the opportunity to remove and examine all the components behind the dash and clean them. BEWARE of removing the ducting from the breadloaf dash vent, it's brittle from being old and I learned this by breaking the tabs off it from the inside while trying to pull the ducting loose. pull the ducting loose from the end which attaches to the large plastic duct behind the dash frame....not from the vent in the breadloaf! I learned the hard way and had to repair my vent tabs with JB Weld.