My new to me 64 Polara

[icetech]

Damn, I unhooked the flex tube from the blower motor today to blow the leaves out. I tore the end of the flex tube (60 years old) so I cut off the bad end and clamped it down with some tie straps. A big hose clamp would work better but 8" I didn't have. I blew through the fan with some compressed air and a vacuum cleaner on the other end. I went for a highway drive and I now have a heater core leak onto the drivers floor area. Oh, I also pretty much destroyed the glove box liner. Today was not my day. LOL The good thing is that the o' Poly just hummed down the interstate at 65. A little vibration. I need to get the tires balanced and the front end checked and aligned. It was bouncing over bumps in the road a bit wonky (not straight up and down) but it seemed better coming home.

Oh the joys of old cars. LOL

how did you hurt the heater core? vacuum, compressed air and a long screwdriver?

 

[toolmanmike]

how did you hurt the heater core? vacuum, compressed air and a long screwdriver?

I don't know. I just blew some air through the fan. No poking with anything.

 

[icetech]

I don't know. I just blew some air through the fan. No poking with anything.

unreal.... well.. if it went that easy it was gonna go no matter what least you know it will be good when you fix it..

 

[toolmanmike]

unreal.... well.. if it went that easy it was gonna go no matter what least you know it will be good when you fix it..

Bypass for now, fix it later. Not looking forward to that. I need to get a manual to see how it all comes apart. I'm not a big fan of working under the dash.

 

[icetech]

Bypass for now, fix it later. Not looking forward to that. I need to get a manual to see how it all comes apart. I'm not a big fan of working under the dash.

honestly if i were to do it, i would remove the front seat.. it will make your life 1000% easier doing that.

 

[toolmanmike]

honestly if i were to do it, i would remove the front seat.. it will make your life 1000% easier doing that.

I have buckets and console.

 

[icetech]

I have buckets and console.

oh cake... just take out the passenger.. that's the side you will be working on almost 90% anyway... i loved working in my car til i put the seats in then everything hurt after

 

[toolmanmike]

everything hurt after

 

[Ron H]

I’ve had the seats out so often for under dash work, was thinking of using wing nuts for them. No way at my age anymore I’m under there without the left or right seats out. If your leak is what I’m thinking, access will be from the left to the heater control valve. Some years ago I rebuilt the valve finding an original from a boneyard as at one time the one in my car was an aftermarket one. There’s an O-ring on the valve inserting to the core. I could not get the leak fixed. My first error was trying to use o-rings from my supply of dozens, none fit. I found one thanks to a member who sent one.

By that time though, I installed new carpet, leather console, etc. and decided to forego tearing it down again to replace the ring as if it would still leak, have new carpet and possibly the console to get messed up. As well, seldom drive it in colder weather when a defrost would be needed, so kept the core bypassed. Maybe twice a season it would be nice to have a defroster. I found putting about a 1/2 spent roll of paper towels on the dash sucks up humidity to reduce the condensation on the windshield without blocking vision. I do this in my ancient plow truck when humidity gets overwhelming in the cab keeping a roll on the seat as well.

Whatever works. Was thinking about getting some oil-dry socks to try them someday. Anyway, the design of that little 0-ring has to take on a huge job and if it fails it is a holy mess I don't want to combat anymore.

 

[toolmanmike]

I’ve had the seats out so often for under dash work, was thinking of using wing nuts for them. No way at my age anymore I’m under there without the left or right seats out. If your leak is what I’m thinking, access will be from the left to the heater control valve. Some years ago I rebuilt the valve finding an original from a boneyard as at one time the one in my car was an aftermarket one. There’s an O-ring on the valve inserting to the core. I could not get the leak fixed. My first error was trying to use o-rings from my supply of dozens, none fit. I found one thanks to a member who sent one.

By that time though, I installed new carpet, leather console, etc. and decided to forego tearing it down again to replace the ring as if it would still leak, have new carpet and possibly the console to get messed up. As well, seldom drive it in colder weather when a defrost would be needed, so kept the core bypassed. Maybe twice a season it would be nice to have a defroster. I found putting about a 1/2 spent roll of paper towels on the dash sucks up humidity to reduce the condensation on the windshield without blocking vision. I do this in my ancient plow truck when humidity gets overwhelming in the cab keeping a roll on the seat as well.

Whatever works. Was thinking about getting some oil-dry socks to try them someday. Anyway, the design of that little 0-ring has to take on a huge job and if it fails it is a holy mess I don't want to combat anymore.

Something so small and simple can be such a pain in the butt. I'll just bypass it for now. Like you, i probably won't need a heater or heated defrost.

 

[khryslerkid]

I might stick my head under the dash today and see what I need to do to pull the blower motor and cage out. Every time I turn on the fan I need to rake the leaves off the passenger floor.

And check out the wiper motor while you're there!

 

[retractable]

I replaced the heater core in the 64 wagon last summer. Did not take the seat out. It was not that bad a job. Person in superior wi rebuilds the heater hot water valve if that is what is leaking.

 

[toolmanmike]

And check out the wiper motor while you're there!

I saw it under the dash. It didn't look too bad and the linkage looked new. I'll mess with it someday soon. It would be nice if it was just a bad ground or a fuse. An Arizona car might not have used the wipers much.

 

[toolmanmike]

I replaced the heater core in the 64 wagon last summer. Did not take the seat out. It was not that bad a job. Person in superior wi rebuilds the heater hot water valve if that is what is leaking.

Good to know and thanks for that info. I have it bypassed for now. I need to get into a service manual. Do you take the whole heater box out to get to it?

 

[Ron H]

it has been several years since I messed with it but seem to recall I didn't need to remove the box.

 

[retractable]

I took the complete box out
. Cleaned and painted it. I dont think there is enough room to lift the core out without the complete box out. I needed to tweet the one pipe to get it to fit right. I have a couple of cores if you want to send one out to be recored.. I purchased a new one.

 

[MarPar]

I took the complete box out
. Cleaned and painted it. I dont think there is enough room to lift the core out without the complete box out. I needed to tweet the one pipe to get it to fit right. I have a couple of cores if you want to send one out to be recored.. I purchased a new one.

Any pics?

 

[toolmanmike]

I took the complete box out
. Cleaned and painted it. I dont think there is enough room to lift the core out without the complete box out. I needed to tweet the one pipe to get it to fit right. I have a couple of cores if you want to send one out to be recored.. I purchased a new one.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Great info.

 

[retractable]

I can get pictures of the core