Heater core replacement
 

I need to replace the heater core in my 68 Firebird 400 convertible. What is the best/easiest way to do it, should I remove the fender, or can I get the fender well out of the way with the fender on.

I may be wrong, but I beleive you don't have to remove your fender,, you do have to pull the heater box out from under the dash though to access the core which is in this heater box... you will have to disconnect the heater hoses where they clamp onto the heater core pipes that come thru the front of the fire wall... hope this helps...:)

Would this be the same way to do it on a 69 car with A/C?? Can I pull it without pulling the fender?? Thanks. Aaron

It has been a long time since I did it, but I had to take the inner fender well part way out to replace the heater core on my 69 Firebird with AC.

Does the A/C box need to come out??

With AC, I have replaced my heater core 3 times. I dont have to take the fender off but my car had the old trap door cut out of the inner fender. This was actually a factory typed method to do. I am glad it was done already on my car when I got it 30 years ago.

I replaced the heater core on the 69 TA without removing the fender. Its a non-AC car. I basically removed the nuts on the firewall side and did the rest from the inside of the car. I did remove the inner glove box to loosen some of the heater controls. I remember hurting the next day, lots of twisting in a small space. I did it by myself and I can tell you it would have been a heck of a lot easier if I had someone helping to guide it all back in from the firewall side.

It took a couple of hours. Make sure you put plastic down in the car as all the maneuvering you need to do will probably spill some coolant.

I'm sorry, but I don't really remember. I don't think it did. If I remember correctly, I just had to move the inner fender well to get to the lower heater hose.

Thanks. I will be doing it in the next couple of weeks. I will post on how it goes.

No fender removal required. Just need to be a contortionist working under your dash. I think I removed my glovebox...can't remember.

Make sure your new heater core does NOT have the extra long tubes. If they are longer than the original core, you will not be able to install in the limited space. I learned this the hard way...had to sweat and resolder the old onto the new.

I had to do the switch and sodder thing also. I tried 2 different cores and they both had the long tubes on them that wouldn't allow placement through the firewall. The new cores are also thicker than originals, so I didn't place the clamp back in the heater box that held the other one tight. The padding holds the new core and keeps it from vibrating. I have a non-AC 67 and didn't have to remove the inner fender.

I pulled mine out yesterday. No fender removal. You will need to be on your back between the seats and the heater area. Once you remove the 5 nuts on the engine side you can push the heater box out. You will need to remove the three cables off the controls at box. I took my glove box out also but not sure if you really need to.