Heater Core Replacement Tip
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Vernon BC
Heater Core Replacement Tip
Having researched the web and reading that replacing the heater core on my 1986 was a horrible job I dove in anyway. After removing a great deal of the dash, the ducting and the ECM just getting the heater core housing off was the biggest chrore especially accessing the two upper screws. With the new core in place getting those two upper screws back in the housing took some thought.
Here is my tip: With the housing still off fill the upper two screw holes with silicone and stand the two screws up in the holes and allow the silicone time to set up. Now you can place the housing in position and the screws stay in place until you can get a driver on to tighten them up. The rest of the reassembly was time consuming but easy.
Here is my tip: With the housing still off fill the upper two screw holes with silicone and stand the two screws up in the holes and allow the silicone time to set up. Now you can place the housing in position and the screws stay in place until you can get a driver on to tighten them up. The rest of the reassembly was time consuming but easy.
Last edited by BSH; May 8, 2006 at 10:35 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Langley B.C.
Originally Posted by BSH
Having researched the web and reading that replacing the heater core on my 1986 was a horrible job I dove in anyway. After removing a great deal of the dash, the ducting and the ECM just getting the heater core housing off was the biggest chrore especially accessing the two upper screws. With the new core in place getting those two upper screws back in the housing took some thought.
Here is my tip: With the housing still off fill the upper two screw holes with silicone and stand the two screws up in the holes and allow the silicone time to set up. Now you can place the housing in position and the screws stay in place until you can get a driver on to tighten them up. The rest of the reassembly was time consuming but easy.
Here is my tip: With the housing still off fill the upper two screw holes with silicone and stand the two screws up in the holes and allow the silicone time to set up. Now you can place the housing in position and the screws stay in place until you can get a driver on to tighten them up. The rest of the reassembly was time consuming but easy.
Thanks for sharing!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 125
From: Dunstable MA
St. Jude Donor '05
Good thinkin'. When I did mine I used a dab of axle grease to keep a lot of those little screws in the socket while I maneuvered it into position. Not as creative, but it helped.
Congratulations on your core job, BTW. The good part of the job is you know what your are doing is going to fix the problem. The bad part is ... well .... all the rest of it.
Congratulations on your core job, BTW. The good part of the job is you know what your are doing is going to fix the problem. The bad part is ... well .... all the rest of it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I'm glad I live down in sunny hot FL. My heater core took a dump 3 years ago and I never replaced it . I think it got into the 30's for 2 whole days this whole last winter.
