So I won't be able to work on the Skylark at all until after the New Year when I get home from vacay, but I figured I'd be mentally prepared at least. I'm in the process of attempting to remove my heater core and AC EVAP box to install an AC delete cover while retaining use of my heater. I'm trying to do this without removing the inner fender! Post #7 in this thread states that there is a stud that can be drilled out to accomplish this: http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/who-can-tell-me-about-replacing-my-heater-core.45622/ Before I left for vacation I took a picture of what I think is the correct stud/emboss to drill out, but can someone verify I have the right one before I drill any holes in any wrong places?
You can drill that out, and get the heater core out....but you still have two bolts holding on the outer cover on the firewall at the blower. In order for those to come out, the fender has to come off, or at least the inner fender.
Ah damn that's too bad! Oh well, more opportunities to learn I guess. I'm just hoping I can get the inner fender out without having to move the car. It's on ramps right now and not running, and there is very little space on each side:
This might help give you a better idea of what it looks like. You can take a hole saw or a cut off wheel to gain access through the inner fender. My pal from way back had a 1969 SS/RS Camaro that needed a blower motor, and the knucklehead shop cut a 4 X 6 inch hole in the fender! . It was a bright yellow car, but the repair did look good; but still... ws
Ah thanks for the picture, this is really helpful! Is there also a 4th bolt that's hidden below the blower motor in your pic? I've also heard that you can cut most of a hole out of the inner fender and then bend the flap of metal in to gain access and then when you're done you can bend it back and tack weld or seal it somehow. The part of my inner fender near the battery tray is already rusted so I'm not too scared to drill/cut into it . . . I'll let you know how it goes!
On my wildcat, I ended up taking out the inner fender. I'm glad I did as I fiddled around for a bit before I just dove in. It was the way to go as the whole job turned out better.
IIRC... theres a 4th AND a 5th behind the cooling hose on the blower, but the one behind the 455 valve cover was a DOOZY! Keep digging away; it only gets better! ws