Did I tell everyone how great it is to have heat in the cab? Heater core went to leaking last fall, disconnected it in April. Many freezing nights since.

Got the job finished. I only have one thing to say, the engineer that put that system together should be shot. Steering column, complete dash, shifter levers, console, it all has to come out. Then you get to pull the heater/air unit and change the core.

A little tip if you get into it. The service manual shows how to make a wire hook to hold the dash rotated down while unhooking more stuff. It does not work, it is too heavy. I put a pair of pillows on the front of the seats and adjusted them to allow the dash to lay on them.

 

Man that sounds like a job!! By your post, I think I will pay a lot more attention to my antifreeze and the mixture to insure a correct level so as to make the heater core last as long as I can. And to think I used to gripe about having to change them out in the 80's model chevy trucks and vans!Whew! the whole dash and steering column,maybe if mine ever goes out I will just take it to you?? Ha Ha, Goodluck, Rick

 

man, you got that right!

 

You keep replacing all the parts and you will have to re-title your truck!!! "The title weighed 60 pounds"

 

I have done probably ten or more a/c evaporators and heater cores on these trucks, and I can say at least they engineered these dashboards and heater boxes to be removed and disassembled easier than most. (try a Neon or Grand Cherokee!)

 

My wifes 97' GMC Jimmy (little blazer, POS!) is the same way, pull the steering wheel off, lay the column on the floor, pull the whole dash out of the rig, pull the heater box assy out. then you can get to the heater core. Man what a pain in the butt! Now that I know these trucks are the same way, I will pay close attention too!