Stevec

Have the engine and trany out of my 68 442 convertible and figured now is a good time to change the heater core instead of getting the car back together and then deal with a leaking heater core down the road.

What's the easiest way to swap out the cores?

Thanks

oldcutlass

The heater core comes out through the interior of the car. So it makes no difference when you change it.


Rob explained his replacement pretty well in this post:


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...placement.html

joe_padavano

Well, except for the fact that nearly all of the fasteners you need to remove are accessed from the engine side of the firewall.

Napoleon1991

I found the easiest way to replace the heater core on my 69 was from inder the hood.

oldcutlass

True, but it's the wheel well that's in the way of 1 fastener, not the engine. All the other fasteners are not that bad to access.

Fun71

Yep, I didn't put that one back on after the first heater core replacement in the '80s and I am sure glad I did it that way!

oldcutlass

Me either Ken, it really wasn't needed anyway.

68conv455

I pulled the inner plastic fender to better access the retaining nuts. With the engine and trans out, you may not need to do this. If you blower motor is weak, this is a good time to replace it as well. Also a good time to make sure all the doors in you air plenum operate smoothly. Make sure you have some strip caulk on hand to re-seal if you take things apart to clean them up.

Stevec

Thanks guys!

atkinsom

I have a 1969 Cutlass S that came with factory A/C but is now a delete item in the engine bay...the motor is out for work and I thought it's a good time to get at the heater core with the engine bay empty. I've never done this before and the CSM has vague info to me in regards to removal of the heater core. I've read Rob's howto on the removal from a 72 A/C model...does the same apply to a 1969 A/C model year? Can I remove the heater core from the firewall side without removing the whole assembly under the dash? Looking for the least painful way if there is one for a 1969 Thanks.

joe_padavano

There is only one way and it is painful. The 1968-72 A/C cars are all the same (and yours is an A/C car as far as the heater is concerned). The heater core is physically located in the box under the dash and needs to come out from under the dash, HOWEVER, the fasteners for this box are studs that pass through the firewall with nuts on the engine side of the firewall. Some of these nuts are up under the fender, outboard of the heater motor. At a minimum you need to remove the inner fender for access.

atkinsom

OK thanks Joe...I guess this will become a maw job