1972 heater core replacement

[Kurt G.]

I've taken on a winter project this year on my recently acquired 72 coupe. I've not been able to find much written in a "step-by-step" basis on how to replace the heater core that was bypassed by the previous owner. Does anyone out there know of any information available to make this daunting task a little less of a challenge and a bit more pleasant than I understand it can be?

[Dick W.]

Re: 1972 heater core replacement

Drain antifreeze. Remove heater hoses from core. Remove (1) speed nut from lower side of heater box, near the rh vavle cover. Remove rh dash pad. Remove heater box by removing (3) speed nuts around the edges. Carefully work the box and core out of the firewall. Go ahead and have a new seal kit on hand before you start. Reverse the procedure to install. About 4 hours worth of work.

[Phil P.]

Re: 1972 heater core replacement

do the obvious under the hood--remove the heater hoses,(slice them with a razor knife and discard),ground and pos leads to motor--remove the window washer assy--remove i s/b 6 nuts that hold the the blower housing on--2 of these are under the fender--4 will be more visable 2 top and 2 bottom holding the blower housing on,the top 2 will or might have wire loom clamps under the nuts--remove the blower housing--use care and some rotation it will come out without scuff or scratching other items--check the 4 studs that are not under the fender for additional nuts(ran into these on my virgin car and i think they were were there to hold the core in place for blower housing inst.)with the b housing gone you need to go inside the car and pull (towards the rear)on the heater plenum just enough to "loosen it up" go under the hood--looking towards the rear of the car (at the actual core) on the left will be a friction clamp--pull it off--to the right will be 2 5/16 head screws remove those(plenum shift needed)the core will come out towards the front of the car this will save 2 hrs min. will post heater core selection next

[Phil P.]

Re: 1972 heater core replacement

when you buy the new core from where ever( i will almost guarantee the inlet & outlet tubes will be configured wrong, i bought 3, all wrong from well known vendors) if you still have the org. harrison core take it with the re-pop to a good radiator shop and have the end plates changed over from the harrison to the re-pop--(witness the pressure check) now since you have removed it you know how to re-install--start the car with water only to make sure there are no leaksgood luck

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 heater core replacement

There should be a step-by-step in the 1972 Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual (CSM or sometimes just FSM), with illustrations, thanks to the folks who built your Corvette. If you don't own one, this is a good time to purchase it. Also consider purchase of the AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual). That book will have illustrations that will show you most, maybe all, of the fasteners you will need to remove/reinstall to get at the heater core.

Now a word from our sponsor: Both these reference books are available from the NCRS store -- click the radio button at the top pf the page.

The step-by-step will be a little different depending on whether your Corvette has C-60 (Air Conditioning) or not.

[Paul L.]

Step-by-Step

Kurt,
Have a peek here.

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

[Paul L.]

Without A/C

Mine (non-A/C, 1979) came out the front. Takes about 1 1/2 hours.

[Paul L.]

Without A/C -2nd Pic *NM*

[Dick W.]

Re: Without A/C -2nd Pic

Oops! Assumed that the car was C-60 equipped. See what happens when you Ass/u/me!

[Paul L.]

Re: Without A/C -2nd Pic

Dick,
Apparently it does have A/C so my pics are irrelevant.