C3 heater Core Replacement

[Don kelley]

On a 1969 corvette roster, can the heater core be changed out from the inside passenger compartment or does it have to be removed from the engine compartment? Does anyone have a heater core replacement procedure for the above car.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 heater Core Replacement

Don------

It needs to be done from INSIDE the car. I've heard of some folks saying that they've replaced it from the engine side, but I'll be damned if I can figure out how they did it this way. Anyway, the best way is from inside the car. Keep in mind that the heater core is contained within and fastned to the INNER heater box and NOT the outer (engine side) box.

The procedure can be found in the Chevrolet Service Manual. As I've said many times before, if you work on your own car, you ABSOLUTELY MUST have and use the factory service manuals. Do not even ATTEMPT to do anything that even resembles serious work on your car without one. These manuals for most C1, C2, and C3 model year Corvettes can be purchased from the NCRS bookstore for a VERY reasonable price.

For C4 and later Corvettes, the manuals are very pricey. However, if you want to do your own work on one of those cars, you MUST have the manual. Period.

[Paul L.]

Re: C3 heater Core Replacement

Depends on whether you have A/C or not. (And here is a first for me: disagreeing with Joe!!). I did it twice on my 1979 with no A/C. The pic below shows it coming out. The job can be done in less than two hours.

[Paul L.]

Core Box - Engine Side

[Mark F.]

Re: Core Box - Engine Side

Don, you didn't say if you had a 69 small block or big block. If a big block it would be a lot tougher job doing it from the engine side, but I've heard that people have done it. I need to replace mine and I have a 68 big block but haven't got to it yet. Let us know which way you go and how it turns out.

Mark

[Don kelley]

Re: C3 heater Core Replacement

This car has air condition. Does that change how to replace the heater core?

[Paul L.]

Re: C3 heater Core Replacement

With A/C it won't come through the firewall. Here is a link with pics to show how it's done with A/C.

http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/juliet/heatercore/HeatCore_orig.htm

[Don kelley]

Re: C3 heater Core Replacement

My the way I should of let everyone know, this a small block AC car

Thaks for the pictures, I am not sure I am going to tackle this in the near future. Living in Texas makes it a lot easier to wait on replacing the core. This sure seems a lot harder than I expected.

[Paul L.]

Re: C3 heater Core Replacement

Good luck with that. If you live in Canada as I do that heater core has a very useful purpose.