Blaines86

My heater core is leaking in my 86 coupe and I have a guy that is going to fix it for me,but I remember seeing a thread on here awhile back that had the EASIER way to change it by taking the passenger seat out and not removing the dash,but I can't find it.Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

mikey whipreck

rick lambert

I read the same thread-it was just a suggestion to remove the seat (like he and several others have done) to make access much easier.

Rich Silvestris

Replaced the core in my 87 recently and removed the seat because I thought there was going to be some upside down time involved. There wasn't. The top of the dash is easy to remove, and you will need as many angles of access as you can make, so I advise removing both the seat and the top of the dash. give yourself plenty of light; with the seat out you can set up a worklight in the rear deck area. If you have a lift, I think it will help your back if the car is a foot or so in the air. It also may help to remove the roof panel. I know I was constantly swinging my head into and out of the car trying to get a better fix on what I was trying to reach. In the Helms it says to remove the heater box door controller before the ECM. It is easier if you remove the ECM first and replace the door controller first on the reassembly. Just my take on it. Others may have better ideas. Good Luck.

darkred91

I had my heater core replaced on my 91 and removed the and the guy thanked me for it he said it made the job go smoothly.

JCAIRE2

Make sure you use a Delco replacement. I used a cheaper one from autozone and had to replace that one shortly after. This isn't a job you want to do twice.

You'll have to remove:
Passenger seat
Dash pad
Dash trim
under dash trim
passenger crash pad
ecm
under dash brace on passenger side
air conditioning ducting under passenger dash
heater control door


and you'll have to move a portion of the wiring harness under the dash.

First time it took me around 10 hrs. Second time I was in and out in 6. I don't wish to ever do that project again.

gh86E

Here's instructions on getting most of the way to the heater core. In the 6th picture, you'll see there's only a few more things that need to be removed. Took me about an hour the first time to get to this point, about 30 minutes the 2nd time (had to remove the knee panel a 2nd time recently because carpet fell off again).
Opening up the dash underside

Blaines86

Thanks for all the helpful tips guys!!

rich 1st

Thanks for the tips and the pictures i am getting ready to replace the heater core in my 86 in the next few days and this will help a lot... it has been awhile since i have done this kind of work so all tips are needed....lol
again thanks

cumbercr

I pulled the heater core out of my 85 today. I did not remove the dash pad. There was one screw on the top of the heater core cover that was a real pain to reach. I bought a 6" flexible 1/4" extension coupled to a 3" extension to get at it. I did remove the seat. The extra room to work was well worth the 4 bolts. I spent most of the day just getting it out. Tomorrow I have to get it back in. This is not a job I ever want to do again.

ccrazor

IBTL.. 8+ year old thread????

AGENT 86

Since I have tackled the core since this ancient thread was started, I'll add this link to a thread that I added a few pics to.

rich 1st, you may find them useful

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ol-delima.html

cumbercr

This is the thread I used for guidance. It definitely helped.

rrt898

Whoever wrote that huge "pull the dash out" article was a friggin' crackhead.

You don't pull the dash, instead, pull the passenger seat.

Pull the hush panel, drop the ECM and the door control module.
Remove the support bar going from the door pillar to the dash.
Use a 7mm to take the cover off the heater box.
Pull the cover, unbolt the core, re-install.
Drink beer and laugh at webpage showing guys pulling dash.


By Fastguy



Perfect!

rich 1st

well it done thanks for all the good advice on replacing the heater core in my 86 vette it was not bad at all too a total of about 4.5 hrs but the was also replacing the heater hoses and thermostat
again thanks for all the help
Richard