Well, pulled my new motor back out to fix a few things on it. Get some oil pressure going (didn't prime the pump - never do that again) but while getting the motor to fire, it was found that the fricken heater core took a crap on me.

Sooooooooooo I understand there are 4 for my '67 sbc Camaro. with and without AC. And BBC vs SBC. I also hear the new replacement units are smaller so you have to wedge something in the box to make then fit? WTH?

I'm guessing then, that I can just pick up any SBC w/o AC and it should fit in my car? And with the motor out it should be easy (er) to swap one out?

What a pain, but I want it right since it will now be almost Winter by the time I get this darn thing back on the road. Lol

And wise words? Or words of advise you can send my way?

With the motor out, would I go from the engine side and just pull the cover off to access it?

Thanks in advance guys.

 

Seems to me I remember partially pulling the right front fender on my '69,it was a PITA. I was swapping in a BBC core for a small to big engine swap.
That was 30 some years ago though so not sure how good my memory is on it.

 

From what I know the BBC and SBC heater cores are different !!

You can't get the heater core out from the engine side of the firewall !!

If all the bolts are installed in the heater cover you need to remove the right front fender to get to one of then , MAYBE with the motor out you could stand in the engine compartment and reach it !!

 

Yikes! Thanks guys. I know they've always been a pain to crawl up under the dash on my other cars, but this is going to be a royal PITA for sure.


Okay, so I'll have to see how much room I have from standing inside the engine compartment to see if I can reach the far bolt.


Man, if I didn't want to drive this thing in the cold winter time I'd just by-pass it, but the wife will be driving the car and it needs to be right.


Guess it's time to pull the front seat and carpet and take a look under the dash then. Ugh.


Thanks for the info. ~ yeah, I have a BBC for the car, but maybe now I'll put it in another one with the front end "off" the car. LOL

 

Heater core is easy.
Unscrew the five nuts on engine side.
Inside, lay down a sheet of plastic from trans tunnel to underneath heart on firewall to pass seat and over the rocker panel.
No need for disconnecting cables, maybe electrical connector for the resistor block.
Then pull heater down to pass floorboard - yes, it will be hard as you are pulling against clay weatherstripping.
Once out on floor, use 5/16 tool for removing clamp holding in core.
Remove core and replace it, or best deal is have OE core repaired as I believe repo cores are smaller in thickness and alum spacers would be needed to fill the space matching OE core thickness.
Reassemble in reverse.


I have done this event to two Camaros' and takes maybe 1.5 hours at the most.
Plastic is to contain coolant from core as you will never get all of it out.

 

Everett,
Thanks man. Yeah, the carpet is junk now. I've got to replace it anyway, but I can still save the under padding, no wait, oh man, I've got a box of Dynamat sound deadener in the shop. Great, there goes another project "while I'm in there" - LOL.


No really, thanks. I'll pull the seat and lay down some plastic. And great idea by the way on the OE repair (or recore) or whatever you call in on a heater core. I have 2 good radiator shops up this way. Hmmmmmmmm.


Sooooooooooo maybe this weekend? Except it's supposed to by 108 Fri & 110 on Sat - oh well, I'll just have to get started at 7:00 am when it's only 85

 

You're welcome.
Pulling seat is not a requirement, but since you're going to Dynamat it and new carpet, go for it.
the Snowball is getting bigger ...

 

HA Snowball. Yeah, I'm familiar with that effect. =)


I bought a toy hauler and haven't had a chance to get the car back together, but hopefully this weekend & next. I've already lined up a radiator shop to do a re-core or rod out and weld (braze) up the core. Then I can pop it back in and GO on the road.


Yeah, seat is only like 4 bolts (maybe 6) and it will be a good time to drop the Dynomat in and a new carpet kit. Then that part will be done. =)


I'm trying to see if the Camaro will fit in the toy hauler? It would be cool if it does, but I'm not counting on it too much. I still have the car trailer if I need to move it anywhere. Like a muffler shop. Since "now" i'll install the headers I have in the box and just DO IT RIGHT.

 

What brand / style toy hauler do you have that you think you might be able to fit your Camaro in ??

 

Its a 07 Weekend Warrior 37' 5th wheel set up. It would hold 2 of the 2 seater RZR at 1500 lbs each, so I was thinking it "might" fit my Camaro at 3000 lbs. I just need to verify the width of my tires vs the trailer. =)