Anyone have suggestions on how to remove the heater core pipe feeds? I tried pulling, pushing, and cussing at them but, can't get them to break free.

I know not to pry them out.

Wait...double checked the RAVE and see that I missed one of the saddles (I think)

 

Good news and bad news....I got the heater core out with out jacking up the ends of the metal pipes. Bad news, I bent one of the metal pipes...anywho

Look at what I found inside the core, metal shavings & plastic.

My guess...when my old water pump went out it puked metal bits into the cooling system.

Or...before the heads were redone, the engine went kaboom and metal bits got into the coolant system.

Any thoughts on how the bits got in there??


Note that the heater core is bent from me pounding it on the floor to show my dominance after I birthed it from the truck.

 

While waiting for a new heater core to come in from ebay, I decided last night to completely bypass it by buying some hose and a connector from Napa.

Took it for a run and everything seems to be working as should be, with the exception of no cabin heat (who cares in the summer time).

Follow up thought...for $12 I have a quick way to determine if your heater core is the issue in your coolant system

 

I decided to install my new heater core today. However, because of the metal lines coming from the firewall to the heater core, it was basically impossible and I bent them...

So, I had an idea of cutting segments out of the metal lines and replacing them with hoses.

It turned out great and getting the heater core put back in was a breeze. I am not saying someone should do this but...it would be a whole lot easier removing and installing the heater core if you simply cut the metal lines

Here is where I cut the lines in the truck


Here is where I cut the lines on the heater core (don't forget to remove any edges and shavings)


Here is it installed


The thing to remember is to leave yourself enough room to slide a hose and clamp on the metal pipe. Also remember to leave enough room between the heater core side of the metal pipes to reattach the clamps that hold the metal hose to the heater core.

 

Thank you for this write-up! I ended up needing to do the same thing with my 99’ Discovery SD. Much much nicer to install the ring clamps with the heater core outside of the Discovery and considering it’s near-impossible to find heater core pipes for a Discovery 1, this was a small miracle.

 

Nice write up, had not seen that before. I think I would run dual hose clamps in the passenger compartment, but thats just me.

 

There is a dual hose clamp at the firewall that has one screw and three rivets which were not easy to deal with...There is also a double hose clamp right after the pipes exit the heater core, but it requires a pretty perfect technique to get those pipes back in exactly as they were without bending them. To be honest there is so much going on under the dash in that spot once you put it all back together that the surrounding structure does a half-way decent job of holding everything in place.

 

LOL how long did you run that heater core that way. Sorry to bring it back from dead. !

 

No worries and thanks for the PM. I ran that setup for the remainder of the time (2+ years) I owned the Disco with zero issues with that mod.

 

I just cut mine and ordered the hose. I will say even out of the car the heater core pipe clamps are a pain in the butt!