Heater Core

Anybody ever replaced a heater core in a 1973 Lesabre without Air. Also, it leaked under the carpet, and on the carpet. Is there anyway to clean the carpet and padding ? Im ordering an AC delco one tonight.

Gary

 

I did it on a 73 Electra and a 68 Wildcat. I took out the ashtray and the inners of the glove box. Quite frankly I thought I also removed the glove box door - been a while and don't recall. You need good access. The Electra had some vacuum lines to disconnect and a cable for the door on the heater. The bolt holding the cable was a little hard to get to.

The process begins with disconnecting the heater hoses at the heater core. Then plug the heater core (both inlet and outlet) because when you remove it you don't want the antifreeze in your car. It may not be a bad idea to flush it so there is just water in there.

For the Electra there were four bolts to undo from inside the car -the Wildcat had about 4 inside and 2 or 3 on the engine side of the firewall.

Undo the bolts and pull out the whole assembly (housing) from underneath the dash. The undo the bolts to take the heater core out of the housing.

Plan on 2 to 3 hours.

 

Carpet wet with Anti Freeze

Thanks a lot.. Ill try it... but what about the antifreeze on the carpet pad? Will antifreeze ever dry ? and stop smelling? what can I do?

Gary

 

That's why you got to plug up the inlet and outlet lines on the heater core. You could sfuff it with anykind of powdery stuff that will turn hard. You don't want antifreeze on your carpet. The old heater core should be thrown away so who cares what you plug it with.

 

Mission Acomplished

Heater core successfully replaced with AC Delco part. Very easy.

I found out a couple things for yalls reference.

1. No need to drain radiator, no coolant comes out of hoses when disconnected.

2. As long as you tip the heater assembly back and not forward, none leaks out of there either, unless of course your core is leaking like mine was, and then about a pint of coolant leaked out of the heater assembly upon removal.
(no big deal, carpet was already out waiting for new on order).

3. When you put the new heater core into the housing, DO NOT push it in with force. Put the end under the spring clip and then carefully lift up against the spring clip with the core and set the core in place. It goes in very easy and fits perfectly when done this way.

When I first put the core in to its housing I tried to nudge it and lightly bump it, thinking it would just snap into place... just then I heard my dads voice in my head say "never force it son" but too late, I already crushed the cooling fins on the edge of the core as I cursed the vendor and foreign factory workers who made it. I thought for sure it would leak.. but luckily it didnt. When I realized it was my fault (as usual), I felt remorse for my evil thoughts. hehe

4. Do not force the core pipes at any point into the holes. Gently, let them find their way in. else they will leak if you strain the solder joint. This happend to me on a chevy one time when I was removing the hoses from the heater core. In the indescrestion and haste of my youth, I just pulled them off the way you should never pull a plug out of a wall. THey leaked, and that core was replaced, but let me telll you, it was a lot harder on that 66 Impala. If youve done it you know.

5. If I were to do it again, I would remove the old Harris heater core and have it repaired, then re install it. I bought a new AC Delco one, and its probably made in India or somewhere. I still may do that.

6. Use a deep well 7/16 socket to remove the nuts on the four firewall bolts that hold the housing to the firewall.

Thats all I can think of.

Gary