Heater Core

[ka7jjg43]

I did mine, 88 GM 2 years ago, took my time, laid out the parts in order on garage floor,bagged and tagged. One regret tho should have taken photo's and or a video. Worst part was my hands got cut up alot by trying to reach around and through things. I pressure test the new heater core too.

[fmansfield444]

My dad, who sold L/M + used for 33 years was saying that Sables/Taurus you can make quick work of a heater-core job by removing the glovebox.

I did one in my Aerostar and all I had to do was remove the glove box and I had full access to the heater box after that. So yeah, not sure about Taurus but the Aerostar is very easy.

[miamibob]

Don't think you can do a GM through the glove box (I wish). I would assume I would have to remove the entire dash to do mine (the '87 or '95) and that is NOT going to happen any time soon.

[95_Grand]

^ I agree with bob, I don't even know where I would begin to remove the dash!

[miamibob]

Unless "global warming" gets us I have no intention of doing mine here in South Florida - usually not that often of a need. Would only think about it as I do like to have everything working but not THAT bad!!

[sly]

yeah... other cars are easy... panthers... not so much.

[Mainemantom]

Is it true that the ATC systems need to be discharged in order to replace the heater core ? The only cars I have done heater cores on were non ATC cars

[95_Grand]

Bob exactly, dude we had what maybe a week TOTAL of cold days?? And nowhere near cold enough to need the heater! Coldest we got this year was I think ONE night of like 40 with windchill like at 2am!! Haha

[BuffaloRider]

You could always take the lazy way out and cut a hole through the firewall I know there is someone on here who cut through the box that the heater core sits in to make it more accessible without taking off as much of the dash, don't remember who or how though. Still sounds too risky for me. I really wish they would have made this easier to get to...

[miamibob]

It appears they built the entire car AROUND the core! And Juan, you're right - we can "hold out" down here!!

[sly]

Is it true that the ATC systems need to be discharged in order to replace the heater core ? The only cars I have done heater cores on were non ATC cars

not if you pull the dash. only dolts that cut the firewall to get the core out need to do that. My 88 has ATC and there's no need for those shenanigans. I have no clue why it's even in the ALLDATA repair schedule. Panthers are not Mustangs.

[Toploader]

Alldata gives 8 hours to do the job, labor between 7-800 hundred depending upon shop labor times. This is for a 5.0 car with ATC.

[sly]

alldata also lists discharging the AC and removing the evap core too... it's not a fox body dammit!
6 hours for the DIY'r (6.5 hours for me when I did it cause I did a few other things while I was in there along with breaks for lunch and stuffs)
4 hours for experienced git-er-dun-NAO guy.

[GM_Guy]

My 2nd time around was just under 4 hours from dragging my shit outside to gathering everything back in and putting it away. That includes pulling it loose again after realizing I forgot to feed the vacuum line through the firewall first .

Things learned from the first time:

You only need to remove the easily reached nuts on the engine side of the firewall. And remove the nuts from the two bottom studs from the inside of the car. Dash still needs to be loosened and trim panels removed to get enough space. Then don't be afraid to pull on it like a tug of war rope to break it free.

Alex.