[Bentwheelbob]

I'm replacing the heater hoses on the Gold Car as they are at least 15 years old, hard, and incorrect. To get at the lower heater hose do you have to completely remove all the bolts for the inner fender or can you just remove a few select bolts and loosen the others and get enough play in the inner fender to accomplish the task?

[Alvin]

From my MOTOR AUTO REPAIR MANUAL 1978:

Under Heater Core Removal section

1973-78 Firebird...

4. Jack right front area of car and place on safety stand.
5. Remove rocker panel trim on right side and remove screws holding forward of panel trim to attaching bracket.
6. Remove three lower fender bolts at rear of fender.
7. Remove four fender to skirt bolts at rear of wheel opening.
8. Remove two fender skirt bolts near blower motor area.
9. Pry rear portion of fender out at bottom to gain access to hose clamp on lower core hose and disconnect hose.
----------

My note & tip below...

Note: Be careful removing the Baked on heater hose from the htr core. It is easy to bend and/or fatigue the pipe to core solder area being overly aggressive with the removal process.

Tip: If you ever need to replace the heater core in the future you will need to remove the nut (engine compartment side) from the blower motor case hidden stud the is near the lower heater core case hose. You will have all others removed and or loose and not be able to remove the case W/O removal of this hidden stud nut.

[Bentwheelbob]

Thanks Alvin. I've got a Pontiac Service Manual coming and MPD is getting a 1978 National Service Data manual. Hopefully those will come soon.

I had asked in an earlier post if this car should have had an idle stop solenoid, but haven't gotten a response yet. Does anyone know? I know I am missing carb choke shield.

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

Thanks Alvin. I've got a Pontiac Service Manual coming and MPD is getting a 1978 National Service Data manual. Hopefully those will come soon.

I had asked in an earlier post if this car should have had an idle stop solenoid, but haven't gotten a response yet. Does anyone know? I know I am missing carb choke shield.

IIRC - It should have an idle stop solenoid on the driver side for the proper "A/C on" idle speed.

[Bentwheelbob]

Originally Posted by Alvin

From my MOTOR AUTO REPAIR MANUAL 1978:

Under Heater Core Removal section

1973-78 Firebird...

4. Jack right front area of car and place on safety stand.
5. Remove rocker panel trim on right side and remove screws holding forward of panel trim to attaching bracket.
6. Remove three lower fender bolts at rear of fender.
7. Remove four fender to skirt bolts at rear of wheel opening.
8. Remove two fender skirt bolts near blower motor area.
9. Pry rear portion of fender out at bottom to gain access to hose clamp on lower core hose and disconnect hose.
----------

My note & tip below...

Note: Be careful removing the Baked on heater hose from the htr core. It is easy to bend and/or fatigue the pipe to core solder area being overly aggressive with the removal process.

Tip: If you ever need to replace the heater core in the future you will need to remove the nut (engine compartment side) from the blower motor case hidden stud the is near the lower heater core case hose. You will have all others removed and or loose and not be able to remove the case W/O removal of this hidden stud nut.

Well the directions from Alvin's Motor Auto Repair Manual were pretty much dead nuts on. The only variations were that there are only two lower fender bolts and only three fender to skirt bolts in the rear fender opening. The hose is off and the nut has been removed from the stud. Now to disassemble the interior....

[2manyT/A'S]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

I'm replacing the heater hoses on the Gold Car as they are at least 15 years old, hard, and incorrect. To get at the lower heater hose do you have to completely remove all the bolts for the inner fender or can you just remove a few select bolts and loosen the others and get enough play in the inner fender to accomplish the task?

Has the heater core been replaced?

Because if it hasn't.....it's overdue.

If you are unbolting the inner fener to get at hose connections...you are halfways there already...

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Has the heater core been replaced?

Because if it hasn't.....it's overdue.

If you are unbolting the inner fener to get at hose connections...you are halfways there already...

Boy, I have been here too many times, my 77, 78 and 79 all had AC and all ended up needing a core. Back then I put the subframe up on jack stands, PS tire and wheel off to get started, got a cushion for the long seat time,trouble ligts, air ratchet, empty butter dish for bolts, got that nut off the firewall, and some help inside when the time was right.
On that solenoid, The wire should be there somewhere, my 79 was a 4 speed and had the solenoid. Is the AC working in this car?

[Bentwheelbob]

Man, I was afraid someone would bring up the heater core. I don't need any help in the mission creep area. I mean I had possession of the car for half a day, did 3 or 4 burn outs, and promptly rendered it undriveable. Every time I get a car my wife says "I thought this car was in great shape and didn't need any work". Sound familiar?

On the idle stop, the A/C works - or it did for about 12 hours. Hah... I've looked under the hood and cannot see any loose, random wires. I've got unattached vacuum hoses everywhere, but no wires. Hopefully my manuals will come soon. If anyone has a picture of an idle stop and the wiring let me know please.

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

Man, I was afraid someone would bring up the heater core. I don't need any help in the mission creep area. I mean I had possession of the car for half a day, did 3 or 4 burn outs, and promptly rendered it undriveable. Every time I get a car my wife says "I thought this car was in great shape and didn't need any work". Sound familiar?

On the idle stop, the A/C works - or it did for about 12 hours. Hah... I've looked under the hood and cannot see any loose, random wires. I've got unattached vacuum hoses everywhere, but no wires. Hopefully my manuals will come soon. If anyone has a picture of an idle stop and the wiring let me know please.

I had to replace the one on my 79, 43,000 mile Formula, plan on replacing yours.