ive got a strange smell in the cab + very little hot air (or warm air). so im gonna plan on doing the heater core.

however, i cannot seem to locate it, or figure out how to replace it.
here is where i am .

 

see that big box? with the foam? THATS your heater core.

 

You have to take just about all of the dash out. The core is in the box that's behind the radio and hvac control panel. Don't damage the the pipes to the heater core.

 

what box (theres 2) and how easy is it, or far away am i?>

i just want to avoid any catastrophes.

 

The one in the middle of the dash directly behind the heater controls.

It gets even worse. You may need to remove the evaporator as well because it overlaps the heater core enclosure.

 

yeah.
im thinking its a huge job.

anyone done this? and how long / difficult is it. (from here that is, dash all the way off, im just skeptical about removing all those wires, controls.

 

ok, took a shower and sobered up a bit. sorry, the other guys are right. the heater core is in the middle behind the dash. since you already have the dash apart, it should be somewhat easy. the cables are a PITA, just remember where they go. i still dont have mine hooked up properly, i can move the slider, but if i move it back to vent, i have to reach under the dash and manually do it. remember where they go.

 

Here is a link to Factory service manuals...might help you out, takes a little digging but all the info you need it there..http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/index.html

I feel for you, I was driving my '81 in today and was smelling coolant with the defroster going and I am not look forward to tearing it all apart

 

thanks, i will label everything, if i get stuck, will refer to the 1028page manual if i can read that many.

 

Or you could ask me lol. if you have AC (I think you do) you will have to disconnect it. that means draining and refilling the system PROPERLY heh. then the boxes have to be removed from right to left. The very far right box (blower motor housing) does not need to be removed.

Take the AC box off, then you can remove the left box (heater core). Once that is done, you can remove the heater core from the box.

Be sure to remove the hoses from the pipes under the hood WITHOUT damaging the pipes. They are very very soft.

 

so its just a box, i mean, i thought it was a type of radiator.

i do have A.C. but theres not a belt on the pulley, (not that i even know if there is any freon, but too late, can someone come by and contain it?)-is that possible?

im gonna do it before i drive it again, b/c the removal of all that was hours long sofar.

 

Gosh, man....are you sure it wasn't just leaking at the inlet/outlet hoses going through the firewall? I was troubleshooting my heater core long time ago and thought it was a bad core. But, found it was just leaks at the hoses.

 

what do you think is inside the box? a type of radiator. lol. id love to see a system where coolant just hangs out in a box. then again i wouldnt... coolant on the floor SUCKS

 

Ah yes, nothing like ethylene to brighten a cold morning....

 

okokokokay!

i will check all those hoses and try to see if i can clean the thing.

if it looks like i can remove it easy, i will photograph it.
thanks all.

btw,
should i drain the coolant?- or can i plug /crimp the hoses ?

 

I would suggest draining the coolant. That way you can flush the system. New coolant and water will work wonders for your truck. Especially if the heater core is all clogged up.

 

Aluminum head love clean coolant...ungh.

 

well, this is where i am.
i took these before i hosed it out, and cleaned it up for the work.

5 hours at least. to get to this point.



is that flapper door supposed to have foam on it, mine looks really gross, can i replace it, or should i just glue some new stuff over the cleaned panel door ?



what a nest of wires, (soon to be gone, i only need 3 for my stereo (not including speaker wires)


should i replace the relays,
while im in there.?




what else should i do while im in there?

 

Dont replace anything unless it has gone bad. Yes the foam is supposed to be there, its a sealing agent. No need to replace that either.

BTW the box with the flapper door is the one you DONT have to remove. The one to the left of that is the AC box which has to come off first, then the one to the left of that is the heater core box.

 

Wow- That's ALOT of extra work!

My suggestion is to get a coolant system tester- basically, it pressurizes your system to help you find any leaks (while it's cool). It could help you avoid alot of this work that you've done.

PS- While you're in there, I'd wash out & febreeze all the ductwork. Being the over-builder that I am, I washed all mine out and redid all the foam seals using foam tape of various widths.