Heater Core-ectomy

[Michael, Dave]

Kneale,

I wrote this many years ago. The blower motor and heater core are in the
same unit.

There are a few things in the archive on blower motor replacement. Here
is
something I wrote up:
 
Update on the blower motor. First, thanks to all those who sent e-mails
with advice. It was very helpful.
 
I took a vacation day yesterday and did the blower motor. I ended up
removing
the whole heater box per the bently, mostly 'cuase I can't stand the
idea
if cutting bits that are not supposed to be cut. Plus, in getting the
housing out far enough to extract the blower, I broke one of the vacuum
servo mounts, so I had to take the whole thing out the make a bracket
to fix it. It took about 6 hours, but could do it in 3 next time.
 
My helpful hints to add to the others:
1. To un-stick the housing from the car, I made a tool from a 9" flat
piece of
steel bracket (the stuff that comes in 4 ft strips, has holes and is
about
1.5" wide by 1/16" thick). I folded one end 1/4"   back on itself to
make a hook that fit under a lip that is at the very front of the
housing.
Then I put a 90 degree bend in it half way along its length so the the
flat
part of the steel was parrallel with the engine (ie-front back)
                                |-------|
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                |       |
                                \       /
                                 \     /    <----90 deg bend
                                  \   /
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    || <-----1/16" flat steel
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||
                                    ||    <-----hook
                                    L___|
 
Anways, I clamped the flat part to a big pry bar, and using a tubafor
that
was laid accross the water-box "U" as a pry surface, popped the heater
box
loose.
 
2. Make sure you work the box streight back out up - no twisting
allowed,
'cause if you twist, you'll catch the vacuum servo mounts and break
them.
You have to move some wiring that is tie-warpped to the a/c line so you
can
pull up and out.
3. Make sure you use a thick enough gasket if you are replacing the
blower to
body- seal. I used 1/4", and that I think that is barely enough. I will
buy
the oem gasket when I ordered the motor if I do it again.
 
4. I diconnected the rear seat duct rubber hose at the duct, not the
blower
housing, but that means you nead to have help from inside to pull the
rubber
hose through as you insert the housing (otherwise, it folds back on
itself).
 
5. The only other things that nead disconnecting are two elbow ducts
(they
pull right out), the vacuum servo connector (pry apart with a flat
blade), and
the red, black and white vacuum lines that disconnect on top of the
a/c housing (in the water box).