8788vett

I can't get the lower dash pad off, and do you have to take the evaporator out?

-=Jeff=-

you mean the carpeted piece?

no it does not need to be removed.. but the hush panel below it does.

8788vett

is the hush panel the one with the light on it?

AquaMetallic94LT1

Check to make sure the new one you got does not leak. A friend of mine got one for a GTO and installed it only to find that it leaked. :mad

8788vett

thanks I will do that if I can get this one out :confused:

GRX

Yes, the hush panel has the light on it....right above the passenger's foot area.

8788vett

doyou have to remove the bread box to get het heater core out?

drive it

Yup, you have to take out the "breadbox". There are quite a few screws that hold it on, and they can be a lot of fun to get to.(NOT!) You really need a 1/4 drive to do it. Also after laying under the dash upside down, I found a few Motrin helpfull. (OK, so I'm gettin' old.)

8788vett

I got the hush panel out of the way but I must be getting old too I cant get my head up under the dash far enough to see the screws never mind how many. :crazy:

Crazy Canuck

If the 88' is anything like my 86' then you would be best off to take off the dashpad. There are a couple screws on the top of the heater box that you can see from the top quite comfortably. I used 1/4" drives as suggested with a u-joint.
One other thing, when you get out the old core, carefully compare it with your replacement especially the top part with the notch. There is a metal clip that presses into that notch and you need that to line up to fit properly. I got two different cores from different manufacturers and neither lined up perfectly. There is some adjustment possible though if you can get one that is close to the original.

89vette

The heater core was one of the hardest jobs I ever did on my 89. The dash pad must come off, the AC vent and the bread box. There are two aluminum brackets that hold that carpeted piece on. I loosened them and slid out that piece to gain better access to the core.

Jason

LT5

Replacing a heater core on a C4 is horrible!!! Do yourself a favor and take it to the dealer. :eek:

70ZZ3 96LT4

I have replaced the heater cores on my 70 and my 85. Both require a lot of patience and time, its not a two hour job for sure.
If its convienant for you take a trip to your local Chevy dealer and mayby the service manager will let you look at a service manual for your car to give you an idea of whats involved.
I agree with the top dash piece coming off. You also have to know how to remove the plastic covering for the drivers guages and the plastic around the radio if I remember correctly. Its been a few years.
Check you dash lights while the covering is off. The halogen dash lights are behind the removable metal coverings. You only change the bulb this way, not the fixture the bulb sets in.
Only thing you remove under the hood are the coolant hoses going to the heater core.

8788vett

Thanks for all the help I've gotten the top dashpad off and the seat out of the way along with the hush panel . I had to stop and write all this down because I'm an old man and forget where every thing goes :D

gh86E

Check my web site below - there's a couple RESTO tips links. The first one shows how to get the passenger carpeted knee panel out, and it's not hard. Once that is out, the heater core is sitting right in front of you. You just need to take out a few more things (a cross brace and such) to get the heater core cover off.

Follow my instructions on removing the knee panel - it's only about 30-45 minutes to get to the heater core box. Took me about 30 minutes to put it all back together.

RichAshley-Black99

Its getting cold I have to do the same been putting it off I bought the car in hawaii so there was no need for heat. Not looking foward to it!!!!!

cohocarl

The core in my 85 blew and I replaced myself also. Ditto on the P.I.A. it is to replace :cuss :cuss :sad: :cuss :( , but it can be done. Careful installing the new one also. I wouldn't want to do it twice.

Good luck,

Carl

6spd89

Take your time,I did mine slowly over a week at nite after work.
Don't forget the screw in the extreme upper left of the heater box,they are
all 7mm.It will take about 12-14" of extensions with a u-joint as said before.
When putting some screws back in ,i had to use scotch tapeto HOLD the screw in the socket.I also removed the alum.brackets and computer,brace to the sill-13mm.When i finally felt i had taken out enuff stuff to get the core,I
was right at the firewall!!You'll get it!! :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
Matt

Juliet

Wow. I would have thought that by the C4 time GM would had FIRED the engineer that decided that the heater core was the FIRST thing on the assembly line - and the rest of the vette was built around it. :lol: Same deal on an AC equpped '70: http://www.annapolis.net/members/jul...e/HeatCore.htm Disassemble half the interior - including center gague cluster etc. :eek: ~Juliet

8788vett

success! :D My son and I finally got the heater core out . We destroyed the inside of the car but we got it out :cheers: Now if I can remember where everything goes I will try to put it back together this weekend. Thanks again for all the help.