[Steve Barcak]

Originally Posted by jerry455

I did mine last year. I removed the inner wheel well, that gave plenty of room on the outside. Did not remove dash. The inside HVAC box has to come out a certain way, like roll and reverse, get frustrated and then turn it a little and it comes out. I pulled the carpet back and I am glad I did, plus it was leaking a little and allowed me to clean up. I did not pull seat but removed console. Kind of a pain but not terrible. I took everything apart and cleaned it all up, 49 years of dirt and dust.

I ended up pulling the dash as well as all the other stuff. Just cannot see how that box can come out with that a/c duct there. everything is very tight.

[Steve Barcak]

Was not able to figure out how to pull the heater box with dash and a/c ducting in place. Trying to r and r that passenger duct while the dash is in the car would be a night mare IMO.
I ended up unbolting the dash in its entirety but, lifted and slid out the passenger side leaving the driver side in place. I used 2 1" ratchet straps to suspend the dash. This was a bit easier ( if the word 'easy' could be used) with the r t top removed and attached the strap hook to an attachment on my ceiling in my shop. with the strip holding up the dash, I was able to slide out the heater box and replace the core.
I ended up using a used core! some may think that is nuts but, I have been collecting Pontiacs over 45 years now and have many Firebird/TA parts cars for over 30 years. Heater cores do not age when dry and not in use. I pulled a clean one our of a 79 TA and used it.
I do not know how many alum heater cores I have purchased and then had to exchange under warrantee. I'l never use an alum heater core again if I do not have to.

So, after this was done and the dash almost removed, I decided to dig deeper in the project and pulled the dash out.
Some years ago, I had a dash restored for the car and had no intention to install it until I painted the T/A but, decided to install the new dash since I was this far into this mess.
With all my decades of working on GTOs and Catalinas, this is really the first Firebird that I have serviced a heater core on.
I can say, everything on the Firebird is more difficult to service over a GTO or Catalina. So, I am trying to keep liking the car though I would much rather work on one of my other Pontiacs.
Will be glad when it is over. Having a heater is a good thing. We got more snow the last few days here in eastern Az.
thanks everyone for the advice and replies. Have a nice weekend!

[jerry455]

It is difficult to do but not impossible, just very frustrating. I agree, it is easier on the bigger cars. When I put everything together, I "sealed" up all of connections to make it more efficient. I replaced some of the A/C parts, condenser, and reinstalled the compressor. I am going to get the system recharged this spring. My wife likes A/C. She has a 2017 Camaro SS and likes all of the comforts it has. Quite a difference between my 1976 Firebird and her Camaro but I love driving my Firebird.

[Skidmark]

Anybody know how the GM dealership shop guys did it back in the day? If they pulled the dash, must of cost a bunch.