1980 CJ5 Heater Core Replacement

[braindeadizme]

HELP!!!!! SOMEONE!!!!!

I need to replace the heater core on my 80 CJ5 . I'm having one heck of a time getting to it. As far as I can tell, you need to remove the cover that is under the dash, but all of the bolts holding the cover together seem to be put in from back to front.......as in not facing you......bolted in from the firewall towards the front seats so you can't get to them.

Can anyone help me with the best way to get to the heater core? And also if someone could point me in the direction of the engineer that designed this, I would like to slap them.

Thank you very much,

Chad

 

[CJim7]

It's been years since I've taken one of these apart.....but the bolt heads are (as you found out) on the firewall face. you have to remove the entire unit to access the heater core. Once removed, the plenum can be disassembled.

The original designer of this atrocity has long since been located and hung by his toenails.

 

[Torxhead]

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and have the pros do it. You could at least get a quote for the job and see just what is involved. There might even be a video online to show you what is all involved. Welcome to the forum. Meanwhile the heater can be bypassed by rerouting the heater hoses.

 

[Posi]

Remove the 4 bolts on the firewall (one is behind your 6 cyl valve cover).
Then you can access the bolts on the housing to remove the heater core.

 

[Woolyworm]

Mines leaking pretty bad as well now - been dreading this PITA job for awhile now.


Wooly

 

[jdcaples]

Mines leaking pretty bad as well now - been dreading this PITA job for awhile now.


Wooly

I don't consider myself mechanically inclined, but I pulled my heater box to replace the core. Once the heater hoses and heater box fasteners are disengaged from the firewall, it's trivial to the remove the control cables from the heater box and walk the whole assembly to a work bench.

I thought I'd have a hard time putting it back, but it went back into place w/o a fight.

-Jon

 

[Woolyworm]

Well that makes me feel a whole lot better; maybe not so bad after all! Hell, sounds like you kinda enjoyed it - maybe I'll bring mine to your place with a box full of stouts . Thanks!


Wooly

 

[Posi]

Heck, I'm a lot closer then Wa bring the stouts and your CJ down to my place and we'll get her done.

 

[Woolyworm]

Chuckling


Wooly

 

[Woolyworm]

I spent a part of the day brewing a batch of coffee imperial stout with the dog a a stogie......nice. Dog is hard a work soaking up the wood stove heat as usual.

Wooly

 

[jdcaples]

Enjoy is a strong word. Let's just say any day that I pick up a tool and don't end up calling a friend to undo my mess is a victorious day, indeed.

After reading your posts, I'm confident you can do it on your own. Even-so, if you drive the 3000+ miles during this time of year w/o heat, there's no way I'd let you drive back w/o a new core in your heater box.

-Jon

 

[Peanut Butter]

Take a look at this thread on another site. It should help you out some. CJ Heater Box Restoration...pic heavy!! - JeepForum.com

 

[jammer1]

While you have it out rebuild it. You'll be set for quite a while.