Need to replace Heater Core!!
 

Ok, Im new to the 1983 280zx. I bought this car a few days ago, and the guy who sold it to me said the heating core leaked in the car. The heat doesnt work in the car, and I dont know how to replace the heating core. Do I need to take out the entire dash, or can i take out the Glove Box and get to it??

It doesnt say if i need to take the whole dash out or not.

Since there is a leak, is it most likely the heater core or something else?

I just changed mine out and I don't seen how you can do with w/o taking the entire dash out. I ended up removing my entire dash and the crossbar under the dash. when I first did this tho I forgot about the 2 bolts holding the A/C controls to the dash tho.

I know the glove box will come out, and i wasnt sure if i could get to it though there.

If you need to change the hoses from the engine to the heater core then you can only take the glove box, and the panel below it . But If you need to replace the whole heater unit , then just take the dash out.. Its actually very simple ( plus you will have some working room)

Alright, I just dont want to get it apart and not know what im doing. I've never worked on a zx before.

@bluekitsune, how long did it take you to get the dash out and a new core in and put back together??

I just replaced me heater core and my heater valve in my 82 280zxt. And I did it with out taking out the dash. It wasn't that hard and didn't take that much time. A few years ago i tried to pull the dash out. It took way to long and to much work, so I gave up. Some people say its easy but I don't see how, i wish they would show me or do a write up so I could do it that easy.

Alright, thanks. Did your heater core leak also? And I'm guessing that you just went thought the glove box?

Oh hai... dash removal: :D https://www.zdriver.com/forums/280zx-s130-forums-77/remove-dashboard-25586/

Exactly its cake takes a whole what 10-15 min top. Give urself the room itll cause you a whole lot less frustration.

I've removed that unit and dash once before so it only too me around 3 hours or so to changed out everything and have it all hooked up. But if you haven't done it before I'd give yourself the better part of the day if not a weekend just to be on the safe side.

Alright, thanks everyone. Still deciding if I want to do this or just brave the cold. Thanks guys. Is getting the dash out the hardest part, or is it changing the heating core??

My heater core busted 2 weeks ago... The day after a 500 mile trip with the heater blasting the entire way haha.




Not looking forward to doing this....

The dash is about an hour job if you haven't done it before and you take your time. Finding the necessary bolts/screws to remove is what is a pain. It does help if you have a friend to help you lift out the dash from the car since most of the dashboards I've seen are brittle from age. It took me 3 days to change out my old heater core, swap from auto to manual a/c and change out all the vacuum lines under the dash.

I figure if you're just doing a heater core, it'd take you half a day on your first try. It'd be a good idea to change the heater control valve and heater hoses while you're at it so you don't have to repeat the process again for a while.

Alrite thanks. I might just suffer tho. Sounds like it will take longer than I thought.