Help! 86 heater core needs replacing
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: san Bruno ca
Help! 86 heater core needs replacing
Now , be gentle with me this is my first time here. I recently picked up my first vette and I just love it. Was a Camaro guy before but never again.
Anyway, I've been working on my own cars for over 20 years and never have I experienced such a difficult disassebly. I am trying to change the heater core without removing the dash etc...(because I can't see how). I have all the visible screws that hold the plastic cover removed but I suspect there are more hidden on top. Does anyone know this to be true and if so where and how many? My haynes manual just isn't cutting it. Thanks for any input.
Anyway, I've been working on my own cars for over 20 years and never have I experienced such a difficult disassebly. I am trying to change the heater core without removing the dash etc...(because I can't see how). I have all the visible screws that hold the plastic cover removed but I suspect there are more hidden on top. Does anyone know this to be true and if so where and how many? My haynes manual just isn't cutting it. Thanks for any input.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,540
Likes: 1
From: And on the fifth day, subpoenas were served to Obama senior staff
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (red86c4)
I haven't had to do it yet, but I don't want to.
The early C4's are worst than the later (90+). Rumor is the first part on the assembly line is the heater core, everything else is assembled around it. :jester
I think I'd just shoot it.
There is an article on the process on the web, somebody will have the line or do a search.
Pete
The early C4's are worst than the later (90+). Rumor is the first part on the assembly line is the heater core, everything else is assembled around it. :jester
I think I'd just shoot it.
There is an article on the process on the web, somebody will have the line or do a search.
Pete
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Suburb Illinois
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (red86c4)
I have done it on my 86 last summer and it's a real pita. Some may disagree with me but I was able to change the core without removing the breadbox and dash. The one thing I would advise to do is to remove the pass seat so your not upside down all the time. You can reach the core housing screws but if I remember right I had to use extentions and swivels to remove the top srews. Sorry I don't have any pics, but if you do a search, there are threads that someone posted. If I can help any more email me. good luck :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,139
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (red86c4)
Have fun with it, they built the entire car around it. If you run a search youll find the link to a better site than the Haynes Manual, which you should throw in the trash by the way.
Go to helminc.com and buy a Helm Manual, best money youll ever spend.
Go to helminc.com and buy a Helm Manual, best money youll ever spend.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (red86c4)
There are a couple of screws up top. What I did was get a flexible extension
for my 1/4 nut driver and put the 7mm socket on the end of that, with another
solid extension between that and the driver. That allows you to kinda get
around the curves, so to speak. You don't need to take the dash out or
apart, but you will probably need to remove the carpeted knee pad (which
actually might require removing the breadbox, I don't know since mine
doesn't have one).
Welcom to the forum, and sorry your first repair experience had to be the
heater core.
Dan
for my 1/4 nut driver and put the 7mm socket on the end of that, with another
solid extension between that and the driver. That allows you to kinda get
around the curves, so to speak. You don't need to take the dash out or
apart, but you will probably need to remove the carpeted knee pad (which
actually might require removing the breadbox, I don't know since mine
doesn't have one).
Welcom to the forum, and sorry your first repair experience had to be the
heater core.
Dan
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (red86c4)
You don't need a heater in California! That said...
Step 1) Talk to the boss about getting a week off of work.
I have an'84 and I think our cars are similar, in this department. I followed (as best as I could understand it) the Genuine Service Manual. The first step is to remove the dash cover. The "breadbox" doesn't have to be touched. Even with access from the top, there are screws you can't see and can barely get a wrench on, let alone a finger. It is a miserable, mother flippin job, but it beats paying $60.00+ an hour for a flat rate job. My appologies to the professional mechanics who read this. There are just some things I can't afford. If you should have someone else do the job, see if you can find somebody who has done it before. If you can get them to charge only for the time they spend, it will still be expensive, but the guy doing the work definitely earns his money. Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
Step 1) Talk to the boss about getting a week off of work.
I have an'84 and I think our cars are similar, in this department. I followed (as best as I could understand it) the Genuine Service Manual. The first step is to remove the dash cover. The "breadbox" doesn't have to be touched. Even with access from the top, there are screws you can't see and can barely get a wrench on, let alone a finger. It is a miserable, mother flippin job, but it beats paying $60.00+ an hour for a flat rate job. My appologies to the professional mechanics who read this. There are just some things I can't afford. If you should have someone else do the job, see if you can find somebody who has done it before. If you can get them to charge only for the time they spend, it will still be expensive, but the guy doing the work definitely earns his money. Good luck, and...
RACE ON!!!
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 30
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From: Carlisle PA
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (red86c4)
Good luck!! I wasn't brave enough to try it. I have an 85 vette and I took it to a very experienced vette mechanic who had a heck of a time with it. Had to take the dash top off and half the insides out to get to it. I also had a problem with the doors that regulate air flow to the defroster vents-that was even worse. I agree with these other guys- those vette engineers must have had their head up "somewhere" when they designed this setup. What we vette owners will put up with to enjoy our "toys."
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 14,604
Likes: 3
From: Glendale, AZ
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (vettelover1985)
Good luck!! I wasn't brave enough to try it. I have an 85 vette and I took it to a very experienced vette mechanic who had a heck of a time with it. Had to take the dash top off and half the insides out to get to it. I also had a problem with the doors that regulate air flow to the defroster vents-that was even worse. I agree with these other guys- those vette engineers must have had their head up "somewhere" when they designed this setup. What we vette owners will put up with to enjoy our "toys."
:cheers:
[Modified by 85_togo, 1:37 PM 1/7/2003]
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (tarheelracer)
160 bucks at Walts Radiator last week. Well worth 100 dollars in labor.....
RACE ON!!!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach NY
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (CFI-EFI)
Welcome to the Forum. I did mine last year, no fun. The job took a full day. Make sure you buy a quality heater core and check it before you install. Mine was brand new GM, had a leak in one inlet pipe, poor solder job.
Go slow, don't force anything, 17 year old plastic is unforgiving.
Most jobs like this require searching for tools, then finding bolts and hidden screws.
This is where an experienced GM Mechanic makes out on Flat Time.
Barrier
:)
Go slow, don't force anything, 17 year old plastic is unforgiving.
Most jobs like this require searching for tools, then finding bolts and hidden screws.
This is where an experienced GM Mechanic makes out on Flat Time.
Barrier
:)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas NV
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (tarheelracer)
Jeff Kopp told me the chevy dealer charge 10 hours labor for this job. Therefore, $600 is still cheaper than the dealer charge :rolleyes:
You need to take the front and top dash off also the bread box out to get to the heater core. With the bread box off the removal and installation of the heater core is still difficult. If you work on car for more than 20 years, you should do this at home. Why waste money and don't know for sure if the mechanic put back every screws, nuts that he took out. Just make sure to put exactly every screws back to where it came out of. Some screws have different size thread so becareful to put it back in the right place.
Took me about 8 hours total time of actual work and two weeks to complete the job. I took many break because my body won't take that kind of abuse:).
You need to take the front and top dash off also the bread box out to get to the heater core. With the bread box off the removal and installation of the heater core is still difficult. If you work on car for more than 20 years, you should do this at home. Why waste money and don't know for sure if the mechanic put back every screws, nuts that he took out. Just make sure to put exactly every screws back to where it came out of. Some screws have different size thread so becareful to put it back in the right place.
Took me about 8 hours total time of actual work and two weeks to complete the job. I took many break because my body won't take that kind of abuse:).
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 89,144
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From: Life's tough, wear a helmet.
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (red86c4)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 2
From: Castro Valley Calif.
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (red86c4)
Red86, welcome to the forum :cheers: Since you're local, check out the Pacific forum, we have weeknight get togethers quite a bit........ mostly just hangin' out at hamburger joints and stuff :D
That's one job I'll never ever (ever) do again on a car, much less a tightly assembled Vette........... bummer you picked this one on your first post :lol:
That's one job I'll never ever (ever) do again on a car, much less a tightly assembled Vette........... bummer you picked this one on your first post :lol:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
Re: Help! 86 heater core needs replacing (Caboboy)
Red86, welcome to the forum :cheers: Since you're local, check out the Pacific forum, we have weeknight get togethers quite a bit........ mostly just hangin' out at hamburger joints and stuff :D
