Subject: replacing your heater core
From: "Franklin Poole" <franklin@praecedo.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 23:13:37 -0500
X-Message-Number: 1
The notes below are my personal experiences on a late 1996 build Impala
SS. As we have all noted there are production differences between years,
and between variations on the B-body platform. The basic operations should
be the same although you will find variations.
The heater core on my '96 Impala failed one afternoon as I noted coolant flowing
from the evaporator dump tube in the firewall. I ordered another heater core
from a local parts store and paid a little less than $80 for one with a lifetime
warranty. I did not choose to pay over $120 for a Delco unit. Note that the unit
I replaced and the replacement unit have inlet/outlet tubes that swivel, and mine
came in an unlikely looking position initially causing me to think I'd gotten a bad
part number.
To replace the heater core, the FSM suggests that you remove the lower dash, the
glove box, and the top dash pad to gain access. An Impala buddy suggested that
the passenger seat be removed to improve access. This may be a good suggestion.
Personally, I did not remove the seat, the dash pad, the lower dash or the glove
box. Removing the heater core cover without removing the lower dash or
glove box does require significant prying in several areas, so keep this in mind.
First remove the lower cover under the dash. It is held in place by three spring
clips, falls down hinged at the firewall, and then pulls away.
As you lie contorted on the floor of the car looking up at the heater core cover
you'll find seven (I think) 7mm screws holding it in place. There are two bolt
toward the rear of the car (away from the firewall). One is difficult to see,
partially
hidden by the lower dash. Removing the lower dash and glove box makes this much
easier, so base your decision about removing them partially on this.
There are one or two bolts on either side of the heater core cover. One will require
a universal joint for easy access. There is one bolt at the firewall that I had to
use
a box end wrench to remove. The other, is hidden from view up against the firewall.
You will need to use a universal joint, and some dexterous fingers/hands to get it
out. I did NOT put this screw back in later.
After you get all these bolts out, the cover will be loose. If you chose not to
remove
the lower dash and glove box, you will have to work pretty hard to get the cover away
from the heater and A/C cores. The cover is sealed with tar rope, and you have to
break this seal to get the cover loose. Once loose you'll have to work and pry to get
the cover completely off. Remember that the part of the cover that is against the
firewall has the drain pipe sticking through the firewall. You have to pull the cover
toward the rear of the car as well as down to remove it.
Once the heater core cover was removed, I could easily see how my heater core
was attached. Mine had two spring steel retainers. One required me to remove
the bolt entirely and remove the strap. The other strap allowed me to loosen
the bolt and turn it out of the way. After the straps were off, I could pull the
old heater core down and toward the rear of the car.
A personal note of import here. I somehow forgot to remove the heater hoses
from the firewall before I started all this. I had to go back up top and remove
them before I could pull the core off.
After the old core was out I swapped over the small strap that was on my
old core to my new core. Yours may or may not have the strap. It mainly
seems to hold the two pipes in proper alignment.
It wasn't too hard to thread the new core's pipes into the firewall, reattached
the core straps, and replaced the heater core cover. Since I did not remove
the lower dash, I had a great deal of prying and other work to get the heater
core cover back in place.
After it's all hooked back up, don't forget to add more coolant, and then
check for heat!
Have fun!!!
Franklin "Hawkeye" Poole, Jr.
How fast you wanna go? How much money you got?
mailto:franklin@praecedo.com