I guess I should have posted my question here rather than in the wrenching section. Does anyone have a easy way to replace the blower motor on a 72 Skylark? The book says pull the fender AND fender skirt. Pulling the fender skirt requires you to disconnect the AC. I don't mind removing the fender but the other stuff is a bit much. How about cutting an access hole in the fender skirt after you pull the fender and welding it back after the fact? Anybody been there and done that? Or something else?
The dealership procedure (under warranty) was to cut out a section of the inner fender to access the blower motor. You would then apply a patch to the inner fender. The "dealer" kit had a template for the cut and a patch that was sealed and screwed in place. The original inner fender had dimples that marked where to cut. I don't know if aftermarket inner fenders have the dimples. If you don't want to cut your inner fender, ya gotta pull it, usually along with the fender. I don't see the need to evacuate and disconnect the AC, though. Yep! Yuck!!
Re: Blower motor replacement-Source? I know this is an old thread, but, I will be replacing the blower motor in my 72 GS soon. Where can I get a good replacement motor that will last for a fair price. Year One is around $70, E-bay vendors have them for $37, O'reilly's does not carry them, etc. Advice?
Had an old feller tell me back in the day it was standard prastice to drill a small hole where the dimple for the shaft of the motor was to be able to squirt some oil in there and keep them going. side note For years house fans and such had such an oil hole but they are so cheap folks just throw them out when it runs funny from no lube being left. I use to grab the nice ones, oil em up and get lots of free use.
This is quite true "if" the motor is exposed and easy to access. I've done it many times on later GM cars with the motor out in the open. They usually require relubing about once a year after that though. It's a stopgap measure at best. On the older cars, you probably don't want to pull the inner fender every year to lube the blower motor. The Year One ~$70 dollar price is quite fair if you never have to replace the motor again. Even if it only lasts 7 years, that's $10 per year. I lose/drop/piss away that much in change over the course of a year. I would think that the new $70 motor would outlast the car. The old one lasted 37 years with many years being as a daily driver through Rain, shine, snow, wind etc. From here on out that blower motor probably won't see enough use to ever wear it out again.
