How do you replace the heater core in a 1996 Chevy truck?

Answer 1

This was so much easier than I thought. I have a Silverado with a 305, and here's what I did. #1 Locate the heater core "compartment". It's a black plastic box under the glove box, between the blower (the round thing all the way in the bottom corner on the passenger side) and the ashtray area. #2 Pop open the hood and disconnect the two heater hoses. #3 With a 1/4" socket on a 1/4" drive nut driver I removed the screws holding the bottom half of the compartment to the top half. BE VERY CAREFUL with the last screw, it's in a very tight spot right next to the firewall and if you don't know it's there you could crack the plastic. It was hard to get to, but an extension was very helpful. #4 Remove the clip holding the heater core and carefully pull out the heater core. #5 Pull back the carpet and padding from the passenger side. There's just no way to get the new one in undamaged without doing this. CAREFULLY maneuver the new heater core in place. Remember they are VERY SENSITIVE!!! #6 Replace the clip, or put in a new one if your new heater core came with one. #7 CAREFULLY replace the bottom half of the compartment and replace the screws. And you now have a new heater core, and hopefully you bought one with a lifetime guarantee and you never have to do this again. Check your coolant, flush your cooling system and change your thermostat if the water looks "gunky".