1997 heater core

Well i searched the forum about the heater core replacment. I found that it a very time consuming job. A job I really dont want to do but am forced to do. I am lil confused and a whole lot scared to do it. I have the thread from this site www.sytyarchives.com/howto/ has anyone on here followed this. Is there any thing that can be bypassed? Any tips or tricks anyone can give me?


This job is gonna suck!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yea, bypass it at the firewall with a 1/2 and 5/8 plastic coupler if you live in a warm state! Love that Dex Cool! Make sure you get a new radiator cap too.

Yea, bypass it at the firewall with a 1/2 and 5/8 plastic coupler if you live in a warm state! Love that Dex Cool! Make sure you get a new radiator cap too.


I live in Canada. Its not that cold here but I am on the west coast so it rains alot. New rad cap? Whys that?

Well i searched the forum about the heater core replacment. I found that it a very time consuming job. A job I really dont want to do but am forced to do. I am lil confused and a whole lot scared to do it. I have the thread from this site www.sytyarchives.com/howto/ has anyone on here followed this. Is there any thing that can be bypassed? Any tips or tricks anyone can give me?


This job is gonna suck!!!!!!!!!!!!


take your time. take pictures to help you remember where things go. label bolts if necessary. don't force any dash or plastic. use the right tools.

ACDelco rad caps are defective and allow air into your cooling system which makes the Dexcool corrosive. Replace it with anything that's not ACDelco. I recommend Stant brand from WalMart or an auto store. If you haven't already, may as well flush the heck out of everything while your at it. Clean that overflow resevoire and hose as well.

take your time. take pictures to help you remember where things go. label bolts if necessary. don't force any dash or plastic. use the right tools.

ACDelco rad caps are defective and allow air into your cooling system which makes the Dexcool corrosive. Replace it with anything that's not ACDelco. I recommend Stant brand from WalMart or an auto store. If you haven't already, may as well flush the heck out of everything while your at it. Clean that overflow resevoire and hose as well.


Yea i taking it sloooooooooow. Its a painful job to say the least. I dont have dexcool in the rad i got the green stuff. I do belive my cap is already a stant. I am pretty sure I checked when i first got on this site.


Thaks yall for your help

If you have a 97 that syty link wont work for ya. Thats more geared towards the first gens.

THe whole dash has to come out and disconnect the battery.You do not want to deploy the airbag by mistake.Purchase a 1/4'' air ratchet,it makes the job much faster to remove the small fasterners instead of using a manual 1/4'' ratchet.Use air tools on this one,lots of fastners to take out.

If you have a 97 that syty link wont work for ya. Thats more geared towards the first gens.


Yea I notice that pretty quick. I got most of the fasteners off just gota get the cover out from under the dash and get the old heater core out. Its comming along slowly but its going. I doing it outside so and its real wet out and it gets dark fast so thats helping make it go slow but I think I got it done tomorrow. Fingers crossed. :)

Thanks