Heater Cores, oh the humanity!!
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Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/6/2006 8:27:04 AM
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BigGreenMonster
Posts: 401
Joined: 8/11/2006
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Ok, the heater core is busted. For the time being I have bypassed it from the system. I have no fricking heat in the mountains of Western MD. I dare not use radiator stop leak in the radiator, as I believe it to cause detrimental affects to the engine.. But Im considering using stop leak in just the heater core itself and running a garden hose through it to circulate. Sound like a plan? How well does the radiator stop leak work? I have no idea how bad the damage is to the heater core, as I really dont have any desire to take apart the dash to remove it. When it was hooked up it leaked a fairly substantial amount, but it seemed to be sporadic.
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Don't tase me, bro!!!!!!!!
94 Blazer Tahoe w/ Vortec CPI- Flowmaster 40 series
'97 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR-7
4.6 Modular V8 (no major modifications)
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/6/2006 9:09:26 AM
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lunatic_magnet
Posts: 202
Joined: 6/26/2006
From: sideways in turn 4
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ive used Bars Leak at least 2 or 3 times and it worked great (compression leak/headgasket).
i'm not sure how well it will work with cold water from a hose as opposed to warm water running through the engine, or how it will work to try and plug a leak in the heater core...
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/6/2006 9:26:41 AM
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swartlkk
Posts: 14472
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From: Waterloo, NY
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If I were to use one, Bar's is the best. Only word of caution, I believe the stop leak uses the heat of the coolant to fuse the sealing material together.
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Kyle-
2004 Rainier
1970 Chevelle - Resto
1974 K5 Blazer - Resto
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/6/2006 9:35:41 AM
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BigGreenMonster
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Thats what I thought Swarrik. Oh hell, I may as well replace it, I dont have a service manual for the blazer (have one for Camaros/firebird, Cougars/thunderbirds and Suzuki Vitara/tracker), dont suppose you can give me an idea of what needs to be taken off to get to it.
_____________________________
Don't tase me, bro!!!!!!!!
94 Blazer Tahoe w/ Vortec CPI- Flowmaster 40 series
'97 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR-7
4.6 Modular V8 (no major modifications)
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/6/2006 9:37:28 AM
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swartlkk
Posts: 14472
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From: Waterloo, NY
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Live near a library? You should be able to check out the service manual from any decent library.
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Kyle-
2004 Rainier
1970 Chevelle - Resto
1974 K5 Blazer - Resto
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/6/2006 9:46:35 AM
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BigGreenMonster
Posts: 401
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Decent library?? HA!!! I get your point though, that difficult? I can bum an S-10 service manual from somebody, but as for decent libraries in this town, I wont dignify it with a response. 
_____________________________
Don't tase me, bro!!!!!!!!
94 Blazer Tahoe w/ Vortec CPI- Flowmaster 40 series
'97 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR-7
4.6 Modular V8 (no major modifications)
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/6/2006 11:22:17 AM
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lunatic_magnet
Posts: 202
Joined: 6/26/2006
From: sideways in turn 4
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its not difficult but it is a PITA.
generally speaking, pull out the under dash plastics on the passenger side, pull the heater core cover, and yank the old one out. i think i also had to unbolt the dash itself (one bolt under the bottom corner) on the passenger side and pull it back a few inches for clearance.
its just a hassle because the screws arent all easily accessable/seen. you have to pull the stereo out as well as the glovebox to get at all the heater core cover screws.
IIRC. i think it took me a few hours to do it.
< Message edited by lunatic_magnet -- 12/6/2006 11:23:43 AM >
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/7/2006 1:35:01 AM
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KFC_Or_Bust
Posts: 20
Joined: 10/11/2006
From: New Milford, CT
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Heater core is easy as hell to do on a 1st gen ESPECIALLY when compared to a 2nd gen heater core. Alls you have to do is roughly:
Take off passengers side kick panel(s), pretty much anything under the dash and to the right of it.
Unbolt the PCM and drop it down.
Take out the access panel in the glove box.
Take out the radio.
Remove the 6-8ish bolts holding on the heater box
Remove 3 of the 4 bolts on the straps holding the heater core in the box.
Get vice grips and pinch the inlet/outlet parts of the core in the engine bay completely shut so coolant doesnt get all over your interior.
Cut off the old hoses and pull the heater core out.
Reverse installation, the other part where I needed an extra set of hands was putting the new hoses onto the core, I had a buddy of mine hold the core steady while I pushed the hoses on and that's pretty much it. Definitely not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.
Certainly you can take off the entire dash board but I don't recommend it, I did that the first time I did a heater core in my 89 and it was a 2 day nightmare and the dash never fully got back together so don't make my mistake. The core is only $25 from Advance Auto and well worth it for a non-leaky and fully heated Blazer. :) Good luck!
_____________________________
1994 Oldsmobile Bravada -1993 Typhoon Drivetrain + Suspension. KB Intake, 3" TBE, Profec Spec B. 12''s When It Runs
2007 Mazdaspeed6 Sport - 13.9 @ 96.98mph 1.8 60ft. Totalled 12/10/07 Due To ****ty Other Driver
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/7/2006 7:19:51 AM
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BigGreenMonster
Posts: 401
Joined: 8/11/2006
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Thanks, I ordered a heatercore from autozone, supposed to be here today. 25 bucks, the kid working at the Autozone, I knew him from high school. Odd, I didnt think he was the "car person" type. Guess they hire anyone at those places. Then again, I think most people think Im a computer nerd, very far from the truth. Anywho, Im looking forward to this 
< Message edited by BigGreenMonster -- 12/7/2006 7:20:35 AM >
_____________________________
Don't tase me, bro!!!!!!!!
94 Blazer Tahoe w/ Vortec CPI- Flowmaster 40 series
'97 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR-7
4.6 Modular V8 (no major modifications)
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/7/2006 7:47:24 AM
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swartlkk
Posts: 14472
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From: Waterloo, NY
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Nice writeup Chris! Thats some great time saving information right there! Us 2nd gen guys don't get that lucky.
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Kyle-
2004 Rainier
1970 Chevelle - Resto
1974 K5 Blazer - Resto
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/7/2006 12:05:27 PM
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pilgrim
Posts: 192
Joined: 1/5/2006
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Has anyone done a write-up on the heater core replacement for the 1999-series Blazers? I have that one staring me in the face. I tried the GM vegetable-based stop leak (comes in six-button pack), but no luck. The core still has a slow leak. I'm considering Bar's but don't wnt to get too carried away with adding gunk to the system.
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99 4WD Blazer, auto.
99 Jeep Cherokee Sport, auto.
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/7/2006 2:37:09 PM
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blazinloud
Posts: 2425
Joined: 2/8/2006
From: Saskatoon, Canada
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yup, mine was $800, 600 worth of labour and now he put my dash together all fudged, wires sticken out by the gas pedal, grrrrrr 
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/7/2006 5:44:36 PM
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BigGreenMonster
Posts: 401
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Biggreen spake and said "it is finished, thou hast toiled many thine hours to accomplish this noble task.". Argh, not a moment too soon, started pouring down snow as I was hooking up the new hose.
600-800 dollars for a 25 dollar part? How do you sleep at night?>!?
I just did the serpentine belt on my cougar. Im kinda so-so, I think I know more than the average driver, but Im no mechanic. I figured the belt replacement would be a snap But I didnt want to start the serpentine belt then get halfway done and realize I couldn't do it and be stranded. So I called a shop, they told me 40-60 for the belt plus another 30 to install it. I was like "I dont think so". Paid 20 bucks for a belt at autozone and managed to do it without a hitch.
_____________________________
Don't tase me, bro!!!!!!!!
94 Blazer Tahoe w/ Vortec CPI- Flowmaster 40 series
'97 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR-7
4.6 Modular V8 (no major modifications)
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/7/2006 5:52:49 PM
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blazinloud
Posts: 2425
Joined: 2/8/2006
From: Saskatoon, Canada
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was like 200 for a new AC delco core, 600 to put it in. $25 for a heater core assembly with hoses and clamps and such? i wish, and i sleep just fine, thanks
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/7/2006 6:10:14 PM
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BigGreenMonster
Posts: 401
Joined: 8/11/2006
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25 dollars for the core. .99 cents per foot of hose (bought 7 feet) And 2 dollars for hose clamps.. Yea? Heater cores aren't exactly complex machines. Your truck is a 98? http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1314133,parttype,6864
_____________________________
Don't tase me, bro!!!!!!!!
94 Blazer Tahoe w/ Vortec CPI- Flowmaster 40 series
'97 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR-7
4.6 Modular V8 (no major modifications)
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/8/2006 1:24:54 AM
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KFC_Or_Bust
Posts: 20
Joined: 10/11/2006
From: New Milford, CT
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LOL 200 for a core and you think it's worth it because it comes with $9.00 in hoses and clamps? Alls you need is 4-6 clamps depending on if you want to double up clamps on the core side and 3/4" hose I believe.... I think I used 3/4" on one side and 11/16" on the other side.
2nd gen guys, I feel for ya, I read a write-up with pics on 2nd gen....Wow, GM needs to be shot for that one.
_____________________________
1994 Oldsmobile Bravada -1993 Typhoon Drivetrain + Suspension. KB Intake, 3" TBE, Profec Spec B. 12''s When It Runs
2007 Mazdaspeed6 Sport - 13.9 @ 96.98mph 1.8 60ft. Totalled 12/10/07 Due To ****ty Other Driver
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/8/2006 7:33:02 AM
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BigGreenMonster
Posts: 401
Joined: 8/11/2006
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I think the one hose is 5/8s and the big one was 3/4s.. At least on the 1st gen.
_____________________________
Don't tase me, bro!!!!!!!!
94 Blazer Tahoe w/ Vortec CPI- Flowmaster 40 series
'97 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR-7
4.6 Modular V8 (no major modifications)
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/8/2006 7:49:16 AM
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swartlkk
Posts: 14472
Joined: 5/1/2005
From: Waterloo, NY
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quote:
ORIGINAL: KFC_Or_Bust
2nd gen guys, I feel for ya, I read a write-up with pics on 2nd gen....Wow, GM needs to be shot for that one.
We've got it easy compared with Dodge! How would you like to have to disassemble your whole dash AND recover/recharge your A/C whenever something like this happens? LOL
_____________________________
Kyle-
2004 Rainier
1970 Chevelle - Resto
1974 K5 Blazer - Resto
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 12/8/2006 8:20:06 AM
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BigGreenMonster
Posts: 401
Joined: 8/11/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: swartlkk
quote:
ORIGINAL: KFC_Or_Bust
2nd gen guys, I feel for ya, I read a write-up with pics on 2nd gen....Wow, GM needs to be shot for that one.
We've got it easy compared with Dodge! How would you like to have to disassemble your whole dash AND recover/recharge your A/C whenever something like this happens? LOL
Id love to, its sounds like a wonderful afternoon of fun-filled adventure. (sarcasm)
_____________________________
Don't tase me, bro!!!!!!!!
94 Blazer Tahoe w/ Vortec CPI- Flowmaster 40 series
'97 30th Anniversary Mercury Cougar XR-7
4.6 Modular V8 (no major modifications)
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RE: Heater Cores, oh the humanity!! - 1/4/2007 10:09:38 AM
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fdj
Posts: 1
Joined: 1/3/2007
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I have a 2004 withe the v-6. How hard is it to change the heater core? And what all do you have to go through to get to it?
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