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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:40 am Post subject: Heater Core
I have a 84 El camino with what appears to be a leaky heater core. I suppose I'll have to remove it to find out for sure so I need your help. How do I get it out?
The cruck has factory A/C and whatever else normally gets in the way except for the air injector [or whatever the correct name is] tubing.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions! _________________ Our El Camino is a 1984 Conquista with about 46.7k miles, 95% stock, and for sale.
Necoa #: 696
Location: 11(IA,NE,ND,SD)
Joined: Mar 11, 2003
Posts: 154
Year: 1980
Model: El Camino
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:51 am Post subject:
You're fairly lucky in that the heater core for an 84 is accessed under the hood. I'll go through some basic steps and hope you are mechanically inclined sufficiently to finish the chore.
1. disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. drain the coolant.
3. disconnect the hoses.
4. you may need to remove the chrome strip covering the lower section of the windshield as well as the driver side windshield wiper.
5. remove the electrical connectors, etc from the heater core module cover.
6. remove ALL retainers or screws from the module top.
7. remove the top. It is sealed to the base unit and this seal bust be broken, be careful to ensure all the retainers are removed when prying on the top. You break it you got trouble! Take your time on this part of the job.
8. unclip the core and take it out.
9. you can take it to a radiator shop to have it tested for leaks, but at this point you are time, trouble, and money ahead to just go to your local parts store and get a replacement.
10. replace the unit in reverse order and be sure to buy new hoses while the old ones are off.
LOL _________________ Ike
'80 El Camino (sold)
'04 Silverado
'05 Impala
For what it's worth, I just replaced my heater core in my 81 w/ air, a few weeks ago and as I recall, it only cost about $19.00-$24.00 at Advance Auto Parts. I believe Auto Zone was about the same. Seems after rebuilding my 350 and doing a few things to it, the first time I 'put my foot in it' the heater core let loose at about 5500 rpm! You should of seen the steam comming out the windows!! It left some nasty coolant spots on the carpet (from all the sediment in the core) I had to deal with that too. Anyhow, it really puts out a lot of heat now compared to the old one. BTW, hope you don't have AC, standard heaters are a breeze to change. I've done both. Good Luck! _________________ 81 conquista 350-700r4, changed frame, yr4 of 3 yr project
82 EC 229 soon to be nephews first car/truck
79 EC 305 2bbl 700R/4 daily driver
Central lower Michigan
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with about 46.7k miles, 95% stock, and for sale.
