Non A/C heater core replacement

[eric8]

Hey guys, I've got a 77 C10 that's a heater only factory truck (non air conditioned). Noticed a wet passenger side floormat and the dreaded smell of coolant today. All the how to videos make this out to be a 4-5 hour job, but all the onces I've seen have been on air conditioned cabs. Has anyone done a heater core on a heat only truck? Any big differences? I'm hoping it's much easier.

[truckin 79]

It is pretty simple job, I did this on my 79 no problem. If you get a heater core from one of the local parts stores it will probably be aluminum and not brass. The bolts that hold the box to the inside to heater box might break. I had two if these bolts break and did not ever find a replacement for them. One bolt I was able to make work and then I had to go to junkyard to get another one. Other then that it was pretty straight forward. Since you are there might as well replace hoses and thermostat. Good luck

[old Rusty C10]

its not the worst job ive ever done but you will have to get under the dash

[eric8]

Ok thanks guys. Probably should go ahead and yank out the seat to make it easier huh?

[Dead Parrot]

I have done both. A 75 with AC and an 84 CUCV with heat only. In neither case did I pull the seats. Do your best to clean the threads on the through the firewall bolts. As mentioned above, the bolts are hard to find as they have a clip instead of a normal bolt head. If the threads bind, you can snap the bolt or break off the piece of plastic the clip snaps over.

Do plan on removing the glove box.

Wait until you have the old core in hand before picking up a new one. Some of the suggested replacements are only sort of close to the size of the old one. Being able to compare old vs new is good.

The 75 with AC had a bolt with the nut on the passenger side unlike the other three. The 84 bolts all had the nut on the engine side. The odd 75 bolt was black on black and hard to spot.

[eric8]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

I have done both. A 75 with AC and an 84 CUCV with heat only. In neither case did I pull the seats. Do your best to clean the threads on the through the firewall bolts. As mentioned above, the bolts are hard to find as they have a clip instead of a normal bolt head. If the threads bind, you can snap the bolt or break off the piece of plastic the clip snaps over.

Do plan on removing the glove box.

Wait until you have the old core in hand before picking up a new one. Some of the suggested replacements are only sort of close to the size of the old one. Being able to compare old vs new is good.

The 75 with AC had a bolt with the nut on the passenger side unlike the other three. The 84 bolts all had the nut on the engine side. The odd 75 bolt was black on black and hard to spot.

Thanks for the great tips. I like to start a job with as much good info as possible to save on the headache later!