type 44 heater core tips

["D.A.K." <dak@rochester.rr.com>]

I have two tips after doing the job last week.

1. Use black butal tape to seal the air box (instead of gasket). You can get
this 3M product at most auto parts stores. It is sold as a windshield adhesive
gasket, but this is the same stuff used on our cars to seal the tail lights
and the side door moldings. Sticky black stuff! The roll I got was a 3/8" round
length (15') for $9.99. It fits perfectly in the recess around the hole that
the air box fits against. My dealer wanted $15 to special order the factory
gasket. I spent $10 and have lots left over (for other things).

2. Don't use the aftermarket all-metal heater core. The fit is terrible. I
thought I'd save a few bucks and end up with an all-metal core besides. I ended
up using lots of wooden shims with RTV to get that thing mounted securely.
I'm also not happy about how the hoses fit loosely over the fittings. I
tightened
the hose clamps and haven't seen any leaks (knock wood!) I do have heat and
the smell of curing RTV is fading, but it would have been much easier to deal
with
the OEM core (providing it fits like the original). 


minor tips...

I would have saved more time by knowing ahead of time how to get the piece
below the change tray (ash tray) out ahead of time. I didn't know about the
four fingers (two each side) that hold that thing in. You have to remove this
to remove the screws that hold the side panels on the center console.

Definitely, undo the zip ties that hold the wire bundles along the fire wall.
At the first sign of interference, clip the ties and shift the wires.

Plan time for the silicone RTV to dry after putting the core in the box. Even
with the OEM, you must seal the end where the hoses attach.

No need to remove the trim panel to the right of the glove box. (the left for
you RHD people).

Now might be a good time to resolder the A/C programmer (that you just removed
the vacuum and belden connections to). I did mine a few years ago, so I didn't
redo that. It fixed my air-from-defrost-most-of-the-time problem.


Best of luck,


David Kavanagh