heater core removal

I am going to get into removing my leaking heater core in my 70' Nova and I was curious in how to do this? I never did a Nova heater core before. I've done a Chevette heater core and it was a breeze! Everything was in the engine compartment. In my Nova,It looks like you have to remove the core form the inside, but the actual screws are in the engine compartment?? How do i get to all of the screws? Are there any hidden around the blower/moter under the fender area? Do I have to take the fender off to do this too? I am confused. Hopefully some of you experts can talk me through this. Thanks!

If it has no A/C its easy not sure how to on A/C,anyway undo the 5 nuts on the blower housing on the left of heater core plumbing on the firewall (engine bay)side.The blower motor & housing will stay in place,from inside the car from pass. side reach up under the dash in the center over the trans hump and undo a small screw 1/4" head then wiggle the heater box assembly free you should be able to turn it enough to undo the braces that hold heater core in place.Be sure to re install any foam around the heater core this help the efficiency of the blower.Just reverse that for the install.

Good luck Paul

Oh yeah, I forgot, it is a non-AC Nova. Thanks for the tech info. I thought it would be harder than that. Thanks!

Any trouble post,and we'll walk ya through it.;)

Welcome to the site Paul:D

It's not too bad of a job for the Nova in either case (a/c vs. non-a/c). If I remember right I had to loosen up the p/s inner fender to get to the bolts on my a/c equipped Nova. It was funny, I remember looking in the Haynes manual for heater core removal and I think Step 1 was "Remove entire dash assembly". Doh! That's not necessary! Good luck and I think once you get into it - you'll be fine.

Jeff

Thanks! I am going for it this next friday coming up because I am off from work. I want to get this squared away before i start the floorboard restoration process. I don't have to drain the whole radiator now do I ?? I didn't have to with the Chevette. Some coolant came out of the inlet/outlet hoses, but not much.

I think, if I remember correctly, there was one bolt that had to be accessed from under the pass. side inner fender, which I loosened just to get my hand in there. Because the 3rd gen. Nova heater core is not the easiest one to replace, while I was at it, I replaced the blower motor with a new one, while I was in there under that inner fender. I figured, 1969 Nova - 37 year-old blower motor - "Murphy"s Law" - my luck it would fail shortly after I buttoned everything back up!:D

Good call! I probably should do that also. Now, Where and who would still carry motors for heaters for 3rd gen. Novas?

Thanks! I am going for it this next friday coming up because I am off from work. I want to get this squared away before i start the floorboard restoration process. I don't have to drain the whole radiator now do I ?? I didn't have to with the Chevette. Some coolant came out of the inlet/outlet hoses, but not much.

Take a couple pair of needle nose vicegrips and pinch off the heater hoses so the coolant wont come out. I would try napa for the blower motor.

Good call! I probably should do that also. Now, Where and who would still carry motors for heaters for 3rd gen. Novas?

I think Napa probably would have the 3rd. Gen. blower motors, as well as Advance Auto, etc. I bought mine, along with the heater core, from Classic Industries. Probably cheaper in the local parts suppliers though.

Good call! I probably should do that also. Now, Where and who would still carry motors for heaters for 3rd gen. Novas?

NPD has brand new blower motors with the squirrel cage for 1st gen Camaros, but they use the same one as the 3rd gen Novas. I just bought and installed one in mine.

I think Napa probably would have the 3rd. Gen. blower motors, as well as Advance Auto, etc. I bought mine, along with the heater core, from Classic Industries. Probably cheaper in the local parts suppliers though.


I bought my heater core and blower motor from a local parts store. It was cheaper through them than paying through classic (even with my 20% discount).
FWIW, the blower motors typically don't come with the "squirrel cage" fan...you'll have to re-use your old one.