Replace heater cores on early C3

D

danielepiacenza

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2010
Messages
61
Hi guys,
I'm already here for a question about ... the heater cores on a 1971 C3 without air conditioning.

The story: here in Italy is winter and I have problem with the temperature of the engine water, never up of 160 fr. I have the thermostat at 160 and I have replaced it with the new one at 180 fr. In this operation I have had problems with a leak from the " thermostatic neck " and, I suppose, the pressure in the water circuit have damaged the heater cores ( the original 40 years) and have created a little leak.

For this reason I have placed a order for a new heater cores without AC for my vette. In the manual I don't understand all the procedure for replace it ( sorry, but I'm not a champion in english). I know the cores without AC are quite easy to change from the cores with AC, but I would like to understand what I have to remove for make the better operation and don't have problems.

Have someone of you just replace the heater cores in a vette like mine and have pics?

Thanks for your helping.

Daniele
 
I did one on a fellow members 71 couple years ago and it didn't have a/c. I think the reason a/c cars are much more difficult is due to the a/c drier and lines that are in the way and not easily removable. Below are a couple links that may help and I hope they work.

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/interior/heater-core-and-box-rebuild.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMpisjyuIMc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMpisjyuIMc[/ame]

http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/juliet/heatercore/HeatCore_orig.htm
 
Maymyvetteliveforever said:
I did one on a fellow members 71 couple years ago and it didn't have a/c. I think the reason a/c cars are much more difficult is due to the a/c drier and lines that are in the way and not easily removable. Below are a couple links that may help and I hope they work.

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/interior/heater-core-and-box-rebuild.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMpisjyuIMc

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

Many, many thanks. I hope to do like in the video, without remove the parts inside the car ...
 
In my case on the 71' I had no choice but to replace from the inside since my replacement core was approximately 1/4" larger in size and was unable to swap out from the engine compartment. It just wouldn't fit and I didn't want to damage the heater core, expecially since it was on a member car.

There is more info on the net but I'm sure the link's provided should give you a good understanding.

Good luck on the re & re.
 
Maymyvetteliveforever said:
In my case on the 71' I had no choice but to replace from the inside since my replacement core was approximately 1/4" larger in size and was unable to swap out from the engine compartment. It just wouldn't fit and I didn't want to damage the heater core, expecially since it was on a member car.

There is more info on the net but I'm sure the link's provided should give you a good understanding.

Good luck on the re & re.
Click to expand...

Do you speak about your experience on a 71 vette without AC or not?
Thanks.
 
I pulled the heater core in my '73 this summer to re-solder one of the pipes that had come loose. My '73 does not have AC and it was actually very easy to remove the heater core from the engine compartment side.

On reassembly, I used 3M ribbon windshield sealer to seal the heater box and it worked out great.

DC
 
DC3 said:
I pulled the heater core in my '73 this summer to re-solder one of the pipes that had come loose. My '73 does not have AC and it was actually very easy to remove the heater core from the engine compartment side.

On reassembly, I used 3M ribbon windshield sealer to seal the heater box and it worked out great.

DC
Click to expand...

That is a good nows for me .... thanks
 
Appreciate the pictures, getting ready to take this job on myself this morning in my 70, no air, I was concerned if this would be possible through the engine compartment. Thanks for the pictures.
 
Carb Doc said:
Appreciate the pictures, getting ready to take this job on myself this morning in my 70, no air, I was concerned if this would be possible through the engine compartment. Thanks for the pictures.
Click to expand...

Hi Doc, remove the vacum activator of the wipers door and all the wires on the fan. There are 7 nuts. When you have this nuts in your hand, pull carrefuly the radiator cover and after turn it for take out from the upper side of the engine compartment. When you install the new radiator pay attention to close all the "air holes" around the radiator body. I use rubber strip (see pic).
Ask if you nedd.
Good job.
 
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