Heater installation questions

I finally got the time to install my heater today. It was a nightmare trying to get it trough the firewall and I had my brother helping. I had the package tray removed but if the whole dash was removed it would've been an easier job for sure. I can only imagine how hard it is to do one with A/C.


So I was wondering which hose goes where? I was thinking that the top heater core hose goes to the manifold and the bottom hose goes to the water pump. Is this correct? Do I have to drain the cooling system? And by the looks of it I might have to remove the alternator to be able to clamp down the water pump hose?






And does anyone have pictures of how they routed the hoses? I remember seeing them tide down with a little clamp on the shock towers, but I cant seem to find the little clamp anymore. This is my first time replacing a heater core so all tips are appreciated thank you!

 

Bump

 

Your hoses can go to either port if they are the same size, in the end they'll do the same thing, get hot water to the heater. Routing them is more about keeping them from rubbing on something. Here's a picture of the clamp on mine, it had a six originally and I'm not sure if they were different.

 

Oh ok I thought the order mattered. To make it a cleaner install should I stick with the top hose going to the manifold and the bottom hose going to the water pump?

And where can I buy one of those clamps? I cant seem to find mine anywhere.

 

Top hoses goes to water pump.

 

Here is how I have mine routed. I don't have the top to the water pump as stated above by rthomas771, but easy to swap. I really don't think it will make much difference either way. I am by no means experienced, so this routing may have problems such as melting hoses. I think I might be able to insulate if this is not a good idea. Anyone have any experience with this routing?

Anyway, it looks like you would need to turn the intake outlet about 30 degrees, so with old parts, that may not be an option.

Good Luck!

 

I am probably wrong but I believe that it does not matter which hose goes to which connection. Mine had a steel pipe with an ear welded to it. It was about the length of the intake and the ear attached to the upper center valve cover bolt. The hose then attached from the firewall to the pipe and had another hose going from the pipe to the water pump. The other hose was very long and went from the firewall to a plastic tie on the shock tower and then to the intake.

 

Where is the heater control valve? How do u turn off water/coolant to the inside of the car?

 

Forgot about that. One of the hoses by the firewall had the heater control valve.

 

AC cars got the shutoff valve...non AC car got hot water 24-7 365 day a year.

 

Has something to do with air pockets in the heater core

 

So--- How do u keep the heat out when u don't want/need it?

 

I would think your car would have the shutoff valve, since yours is a factory AC car.

 

I have the valve - wondering how the non-ac cars control coolant flow to turn heat off/on?

 

My plan. No AC in my car, so shutoff the fan, close the dampers, open the windows and open the vents. If it still gets hot, then I'll install either a manual valve or the control valve. Keeping it simple for now $$$$$$$$!