Shorty
02-17-2004, 10:17 PM
Ok here it is guys and gals :D I have read everything in this forum about removing the heater core from A/C equipped El Caminos and it was all too vague for me to completely understand. So I bit the bullet :roll: and just did it today. I was very pleased that it only took me four hours to complete the job and save me $300 in labor costs :mrgreen: The biggest time saver was the air tools used and having everything organized and thought out, before the first wrench was turned 8)
In the following is the step by step procedure I used to accomplish my task of replacing a severely leaking heater core.
1. Disconnect and remove the battery, and battery tray.
2. Drain the radiator enough to remove the two heater hoses, then... remove the two heater hoses!
3. Remove the right side fender well completely from vehicle.
4. There are four bolts that protrude through the firewall that hold the inside heater core box assembly (air distributor box) to the firewall that need to be removed. Looking at the firewall on the top right of the heater A/C box assembly is one stud and directly below at the bottom is a second stud. On the left side just to the right of the heater core outlet tube is a through bolt stud. Below the heater core stud behind where the wheel well was, is the last stud nut to be removed.
5. If needed, now is the perfect time to replace the blower motor and or to clean the power and ground connections if required.
6. That takes care of everything under the hood for now. So we can now start inside the car by removing the dash pad. This is not necessary, but I found you have a lot more room to remove heater and A/C ducting as well as the top bolt on the heater box. This also allows you to be able to better handle the heater box (air distributor) with your arm while removing and re-installing the box back to the firewall.
7. Remove the three or four dash pad screws over the speedometer and the two screws inside the glove box. Gently lift the front of the dash pad and pull the dash pad forward towards you and the dash pad is off.
8. On the front of the box on the left side is a distribution assembly for the A/C and heater that is held on with two self-tapping screws. Remove the assembly and any ducting.
9. Remove the defroster duct assembly out of the way.
10. If the center A/C duct assembly is in your way remove at this time. Mine was broken so I removed it and glued it back together.
11. There are two 3/8’s bolts between the firewall through studs. One directly in the middle between the two lower studs and one directly between the two upper studs. By removing the dash pad this stud was far easier to remove.
12. Work the assembly up and down and side ways while separating the box from the firewall insulation pad, and it should pull out fairly easily.
13. Once the assembly is loose from the firewall remove the heater control cable assembly from the top of the box. If you want to remove the box completely then remove the left cable and any vacuum hose(s).
14. There are two screws that hold the back metal cover on the plastic control box that must be removed in order to remove the heater core. The metal cover is the heater core mounting assembly and also houses a blend door for the A/C and heater. Once removed you can restore and replace the heater core as needed. Don't forget to clean out any trash, pencils, pens and etc. That might be blocking a blend door! I found a pen had wedged my defroster door shut! Go figure?
15. Once the heater core is secured back onto the metal mounting plate you can reinstall the complete assembly back onto the firewall. Don’t forget to re-install the cables and any vacuum lines that were removed. Be very cautious, as you have to deal with the firewall insulation when mounting the box back to the firewall. You do not want to tear or damage the material. Mine was so rotten that I removed it and I will replace it at a later date as my current priority is HEAT!
16. Replace the defroster vent assembly.
17. Replace the dash pad.
18. Replace the fenderwell, and the heater hoses as well as the battery box and battery. Top off your coolant fire the car up and test it out.
Yes, we now have heat :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: ! My A/C doesn’t work but it was missing the compressor when I got the car. When it’s 26 degrees outside and 4 inches of snow on the ground I could care less about being COOL 8) !
I really hope this helps like model El Caminos owners out?
In the following is the step by step procedure I used to accomplish my task of replacing a severely leaking heater core.
1. Disconnect and remove the battery, and battery tray.
2. Drain the radiator enough to remove the two heater hoses, then... remove the two heater hoses!
3. Remove the right side fender well completely from vehicle.
4. There are four bolts that protrude through the firewall that hold the inside heater core box assembly (air distributor box) to the firewall that need to be removed. Looking at the firewall on the top right of the heater A/C box assembly is one stud and directly below at the bottom is a second stud. On the left side just to the right of the heater core outlet tube is a through bolt stud. Below the heater core stud behind where the wheel well was, is the last stud nut to be removed.
5. If needed, now is the perfect time to replace the blower motor and or to clean the power and ground connections if required.
6. That takes care of everything under the hood for now. So we can now start inside the car by removing the dash pad. This is not necessary, but I found you have a lot more room to remove heater and A/C ducting as well as the top bolt on the heater box. This also allows you to be able to better handle the heater box (air distributor) with your arm while removing and re-installing the box back to the firewall.
7. Remove the three or four dash pad screws over the speedometer and the two screws inside the glove box. Gently lift the front of the dash pad and pull the dash pad forward towards you and the dash pad is off.
8. On the front of the box on the left side is a distribution assembly for the A/C and heater that is held on with two self-tapping screws. Remove the assembly and any ducting.
9. Remove the defroster duct assembly out of the way.
10. If the center A/C duct assembly is in your way remove at this time. Mine was broken so I removed it and glued it back together.
11. There are two 3/8’s bolts between the firewall through studs. One directly in the middle between the two lower studs and one directly between the two upper studs. By removing the dash pad this stud was far easier to remove.
12. Work the assembly up and down and side ways while separating the box from the firewall insulation pad, and it should pull out fairly easily.
13. Once the assembly is loose from the firewall remove the heater control cable assembly from the top of the box. If you want to remove the box completely then remove the left cable and any vacuum hose(s).
14. There are two screws that hold the back metal cover on the plastic control box that must be removed in order to remove the heater core. The metal cover is the heater core mounting assembly and also houses a blend door for the A/C and heater. Once removed you can restore and replace the heater core as needed. Don't forget to clean out any trash, pencils, pens and etc. That might be blocking a blend door! I found a pen had wedged my defroster door shut! Go figure?
15. Once the heater core is secured back onto the metal mounting plate you can reinstall the complete assembly back onto the firewall. Don’t forget to re-install the cables and any vacuum lines that were removed. Be very cautious, as you have to deal with the firewall insulation when mounting the box back to the firewall. You do not want to tear or damage the material. Mine was so rotten that I removed it and I will replace it at a later date as my current priority is HEAT!
16. Replace the defroster vent assembly.
17. Replace the dash pad.
18. Replace the fenderwell, and the heater hoses as well as the battery box and battery. Top off your coolant fire the car up and test it out.
Yes, we now have heat :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: ! My A/C doesn’t work but it was missing the compressor when I got the car. When it’s 26 degrees outside and 4 inches of snow on the ground I could care less about being COOL 8) !
I really hope this helps like model El Caminos owners out?