i have to replace the heater core in my 1966 corvette coupe w/o air. is it a job for someone with average mechanical abilities? i have the factory service and assembly manuals. any tips and input will be appreciated.
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
I do not have the information needed,BUT I was talking to a fellow on the weekend who replaced his heater core by just removing the four bolts near the center and maybe one under the fender. His had air also. One of the big problems is to obtain the correct core. -
Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
I do not have the information needed,BUT I was talking to a fellow on the weekend who replaced his heater core by just removing the four bolts near the center and maybe one under the fender. His had air also. One of the big problems is to obtain the correct core.Comment
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
Scott, Email me direct and I'll send you an excellent article on heater core replacement. It's extremely detailed and well written.
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
Scott, Email me direct and I'll send you an excellent article on heater core replacement. It's extremely detailed and well written.
Comment
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
Just finished replacing mine on my 65, and it was pretty routine. Ended up buying the core from a local radiator shop for $45; Corvette Central recently raised their price to $90. You will also need a gasket kit. Everything fit fine. My fiberglass pieces under the hood had a hole in it from rubbing the battery, repaired easily with $14 kit. Actually, the whole process was kinda fun. E mail me directly and I'll walk you through it, if you like, or a phone call - Jim james.yount@lauby.comComment
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
Just finished replacing mine on my 65, and it was pretty routine. Ended up buying the core from a local radiator shop for $45; Corvette Central recently raised their price to $90. You will also need a gasket kit. Everything fit fine. My fiberglass pieces under the hood had a hole in it from rubbing the battery, repaired easily with $14 kit. Actually, the whole process was kinda fun. E mail me directly and I'll walk you through it, if you like, or a phone call - Jim james.yount@lauby.comComment
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
Gary----
The heater core for mid year Corvettes WITHOUT air conditioning is still available from General Motors under part number 3008574. The core for cars with A/C, GM # 3003935, was discontinued years ago and this core, if required, needs to be obtained through aftermarket channels where it should be readily available.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
Gary----
The heater core for mid year Corvettes WITHOUT air conditioning is still available from General Motors under part number 3008574. The core for cars with A/C, GM # 3003935, was discontinued years ago and this core, if required, needs to be obtained through aftermarket channels where it should be readily available.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
Scott,
To answer your question, yes, someone with average mechanical abilities should be capable of handling a heater core replacement. I consider myself in the same catagory and have done it twice, once in my former 66 and once in my 68, both without A/C.
You will need a new heater-box gasket set as previously posted, and if your heater core is still original, as one of mine was, you may want to consider having it cleaned/re-cored. The radiator specialist I went to had good sense of original value and did a good job re-coring the one I had. He also recognized what he was working on and re-cored my wallet for $100. Less expensive replacement costs you can consider were previously posted.
As you begin to take things apart, you might also want to consider "looking around". It never failed but whenever I had a large (or semi-large) area dis-assembled, I would inevitably find something else that needed attention, which would apply if your under-dash and firewall areas have had little attention also.
With the skills that you questioned, and as long as you do a patient job, you can expect to do it once and do it right. You might as well check a few things out all at once rather than dis-assemble the same numerous (and "somewhat" messy) heater core "area" all over again just to fix, restore, or "improve" something else later. Check your 66 Assembly Instruction Manual for the area and components you'll be working with on both sides of the firewall, go from there, and best wishes. TomComment
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Re: 1966 coupe heater core replacement
Scott,
To answer your question, yes, someone with average mechanical abilities should be capable of handling a heater core replacement. I consider myself in the same catagory and have done it twice, once in my former 66 and once in my 68, both without A/C.
You will need a new heater-box gasket set as previously posted, and if your heater core is still original, as one of mine was, you may want to consider having it cleaned/re-cored. The radiator specialist I went to had good sense of original value and did a good job re-coring the one I had. He also recognized what he was working on and re-cored my wallet for $100. Less expensive replacement costs you can consider were previously posted.
As you begin to take things apart, you might also want to consider "looking around". It never failed but whenever I had a large (or semi-large) area dis-assembled, I would inevitably find something else that needed attention, which would apply if your under-dash and firewall areas have had little attention also.
With the skills that you questioned, and as long as you do a patient job, you can expect to do it once and do it right. You might as well check a few things out all at once rather than dis-assemble the same numerous (and "somewhat" messy) heater core "area" all over again just to fix, restore, or "improve" something else later. Check your 66 Assembly Instruction Manual for the area and components you'll be working with on both sides of the firewall, go from there, and best wishes. TomComment
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