I found a little bit of antifreeze on the floor yesterday and looked up and saw a few drops coming out of the heater vent there right above the hump. I bought and added some stop leak and that's seemed to have done the trick as it's dry and clean in there this morning. But I KNOW what's coming, I just hope to delay the job awhile till I get...in the mood. Anyway, is this as difficult as an ald Chev small block truck heater core R & R?? I've done a couple of those albeit a long time ago and what I seem to remember was that it wasn't a pleasurable event. How about on our Dodge pickups? Is this one for the home wrench or should I seek "outside consultation"?? Thanks everyone! Chuck

 

I just did mine a few months ago. Here's the thread.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ad.php?t=87076

The anticipation was worse than the actual job. All told it took about 6 hours.

 

Not tough, just time consuming. Get a replacement heater core from NAPA. I have pics in my gallery of stock vs. NAPA heater cores. Bigger fins and great heat. Just a matter of unscrewing, unbolting things to get the heater box out.

 

Noticed my floor wet the other day.Will it leak all the time or just when heater is on.Thats the only time it has done it so far.

 

If I remember correctly, it should leak all the time unless the hole only opens up when the heater core has hot water running through it. There is a vacuum operated valve in the heater supply line that is only supposed to open when heat is called for. The heater lines run down the top of the cyl. head. Bypass the heater core until you can replace it. I don't like stop leak products. In my experience there is no such thing as a mechanic in a can and that stuff sometimes finds and plugs leaks where there isn't any. Like in the radiator passages. If and when mine goes I think I will replace the heater fan as well. It is all in the same area.

 

Get some stop leak.

 

Only plugs up the radiator and prolongs the inevitable. Just fix it and be done with it.

 

I'm going to but not right this minute...
I used some stop leak and it's dry there now and the coolant level in the radiator hasn't gone down either so, for now, all's well. I'll keep an eye on this thing and then get it fixed here next project....maybe. Thanks again! Chuck