how to remove heater core plastic shroud?

[loeky]

i've dropped the blower fan and cleaned out the squirrel cage. i've removed the screws/bolts and clips from the protective plastic piece on the heater core, but it won't free itself.

anyone have a tip on how to get this out or off? it seems like it's hung up from behind, but i can't figure out where. i'd like to clear all the crap out of it and make sure the core is free from dust/crap buildup.

thanks!

 

[loeky]

comeon... no one's done this? i can feel all the crap in there but it won't drop :/

 

[KLF]

Do you have a Factory Service Manual? It gives a very detailed procedure on how to disassemble the heater box. Unfortunately, in order to get into that section of the heater, you have to discharge the AC system and disconnect the evaporator coil.

 

[cruiser_guy]

To do it right you need to pull the whole thing. You can ONLY do that by tearing out the dash and discharging the A/C!

 

[loeky]

i didn't have the emissions manual, which i'm ordering tomorrow. i figured after looking at it again that the plastic wraps around the pipes and didn't pull further.

thanks for getting back to me though. i was able to get the large chunks of leaves and crap out by hand. eventually i'll go further.

 

[Ducks]

Do you have a Factory Service Manual? It gives a very detailed procedure on how to disassemble the heater box. Unfortunately, in order to get into that section of the heater, you have to discharge the AC system and disconnect the evaporator coil.

Which FSM is this in? I know this is an old thread but does anyone know where I can find it in the FSM?

 

[djawahir]

If you've got pics of what you're trying to get out, we may be able to walk you through it. I've just done this to mine...

I know that there were clips on the back side of the unit that I couldn't get to until I pulled the whole thing off...

 

[Ducks]

I was posting pics in another thread -https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/250350-pics-replacing-heater-core.html

Here is where I am at right now more or less -

lehiguy said that he got the heater core out without removing the entire dash. I don't see how that can be. I guess I need to keep removing stuff. But I don't see how the plastic that the heater core is encased in is removed or opened. Appreciate any pointers or encouragement to continue on. I have found in the FSM where it gives instructions on completely dismantling the dash just not the heater box and AC behind the dash. Supposedly you can also remove the heater core without opening the AC but I don't know how that works either.

Thanks.

 

[MrMoMo]

Hey@! that's a circular reference!! I followed your link to the other thread, and it brought me back to this one!!!

 

[Ducks]

Hey@! that's a circular reference!! I followed your link to the other thread, and it brought me back to this one!!!

The link is to the thread I was posting pictures on.

 

[lehiguy]

I'm sorry I can't be more specific about how I got mine out, at this point it's just a bad memory but you have already removed much more that I did. I had to pull outward on the sheet metal that forms the dash in order to get the assembly to clear, but it did come out with the dash still on. Don't be afraid to make the steel structure flex outward, I remember doing that. I also had to take apart most of the ducting and I had to remove the evaporator core. (Do you have AC?) If your heater hoses are detached under the hood, and the two or three screws that hold the box to the body of the vehicle are out, it should come out as an assembly, then you can take the core out of the heater box. Good luck, and I hope you never have to do it again.

 

[Ducks]

I do have AC. So you removed the entire plastic box that included the AC, blower fan, and heater core? Do you remember how the plastic box was attached to the frame? I can't find the bolts that are holding it to the frame. I think I see how I could slide it out without removing more of the dash. I just need to find out where the bolts are that are holding the plastic box to the frame. Thanks for the help.

 

[Ducks]

When you unhook the heater control cables, do you have to remove the cable from the engine side and slide it through the firewall in order to have enough space to get the heater core out?

 

[lehiguy]

When you unhook the heater control cables, do you have to remove the cable from the engine side and slide it through the firewall in order to have enough space to get the heater core out?

I did not have to do that. In fact, I only remember disconnecting one cable. You do have to take out the evap core as an assembly and then you can access the heater box assembly, so you will have to evacuate your AC, undo the hoses at the firewall and pull it out.

 

[Ducks]

You do have to take out the evap core as an assembly and then you can access the heater box assembly, so you will have to evacuate your AC, undo the hoses at the firewall and pull it out.

Bummer.

 

[lehiguy]

Bummer.

Mine was easy becuase I never recharged my AC after putting in a 350 back in '02. Prior to that the 2F was too gutless to run the AC, so it's as if I don't have it. But anyway, after pulling the evaporator core it should be pretty obvious what you have to do to get the heater core out.

 

[Ducks]

Yeah, it gets hot here in the summer (over 106), so I'll have to have my AC recharged. Did you pull the plastic heater box out under the dash or just slide it enough to lift the heater core up and out? Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it.

 

[jfnall]

Heater Core removed with AC INTACT

yeah, this is an old thread but for anybody searching to do a heater core replacement.

I took out all the easily removable parts of the dash to the right of the steering wheel. Can leave the speedo cluster in place.

the blower fan on the far right passenger side comes out, then the AC box comes loose from the mount points. Take all the clamps holding the AC lines under hood loose, then you can take out the grommet in the firewall and these lines will push through the firewall, STILL CONNECTED. get the fittings through the firewall to the inside. this allows the box to move over far enough, when you get the heater box loose, it can slide to the passenger side and flip on its side and come right out, WITHOUT having to disconnect the AC lines, or having to remove and of the except the easily removable parts.

 

[stocksail]

photoshopped! j/k

Having attempted this myself, I must say that you sir, are a magician!

 

[jfnall]

as a recap and side note - to get the heater box out, you have to take off a piece of the heater box directly behind the heater control levers panel. it comes out very easy. 4 screws. However, putting it back in proved to be VERY VERY tricky.

also putting the whole deal back together, i realized you HAVE to have the speedometer cluster out in order to have some hands in there.

taking apart - AC box loosened, blower box taken out, AC box moved over, heater box slides out.

putting back together, heater box in and mounted, AC box placed but loose. Blower box put in place, then AC box tightened in and then blower box tightened in place.

This is also a great time to do any radio changes, redo any aftermarket wiring additions, add switches or panels, RAM mounts, etc.

I also soldered the tubes coming out of the heater core to prevent future leaks. My leak I had was the o-ring on 1 tube. I didn't realize that is what it was until it was all apart. Lots of work for a .05 cent o-ring!

I also re-foamed as much as possible on all the vent connects and flaps that open and close, and the heater core itself. (if re-foaming, get the soldering done first, then re-foam and slide it in)

On the driver side of the heater box, there is a fancy mechanism that opens and closes 3 vents at the same time. the cable that runs it is the Defrost, Heater, Vent cable. TAKE PICTURES of how this is put together if you decide to take this apart to re-foam the flaps. Once it is back in, if you have to redo it, you have to take the heater box back out to do it.

anyway - hope this info helps somebody down the road with a heater core change or replacement.

I will also carry as a spare part, an elbow hose that will allow me to bypass the heater core in the future, if i need to. I can go from the control valve on the firewall to the tube that goes back to the water pump, and the heater core can sit there and be out of the loop and not cause problems, waiting its turn in line of problems to be fixed.