Heater core

93 Grand AM SE 2.3 SOHC
I am in the process of replacing the heater core on this car. Anybody have any tips, advice, or what ever? I am at the point now where I need to remove the screw all the way in the back, in the middle, at the bottom of the heater core cover. I have no idea how to get to this screw. I can't get a wrench on it.

Sometime you cant reach that bottom one at all.

I usually end up breaking the plastic around it :shakehead
Then remember to use plenty of RTV sealant on the housing when you reassemble it.

Thats what I did on my 95. What I have found that will work is if you have a small bit and a pair of vise grips you can get the screw out, it just takes time and alot of patience.

Ya skii I made a little tool with a 1/4" socket welded to the end.
So bits fit right into it and you can use it in tight places.

Well I finally got all the bolts out but still ended up breaking it to get the old core out. The problem now is, in order to get the new core in, I need to take the cover out completely because the pipes will not go through the firewall because of the plactic core cover. I can't get it out. There are no more screws left to take out. I have pulled, pryed, cussed, but I can't get it to come out. What am I missing?? It acts like there is something holding it in one place to the firewall but there is nothing there. I have already broken this thing 3 times now, and still got nowhere. I am going to have a hard time pieceing it back together.
Does anybody have a clue how to get this thing out??
Thanks.

Are you certan that all the blots were out?
Thier are some on the top part too....

I dont see how you got the old core out, well I guess that might be why the cover broke. Duct tape on the outside of the box w/ silicone sealer might fix the cracks.

Or you might be able to pick up a used cover from a salvage yard for cheap. Just hope they dont want you to remove it :eek:

I had a 93' GA and I dont remember it being that difficult to remove the cover or the heater core....

Here is a link (http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/09/d1/7f/0900823d8009d17f.jsp), I should have given you this in the first place :banghead
it might help you figure it out.

All the bolts are out. It seems to be stuck at the firewall. I even removed a couple of screws from the engine compartment but I can see now that I didn't need to. I saw the autozone guide, they make it look easy, and I have a Haynes manual, which shows an exploded view on the whole setup. I can't figure out what is holding it.

the factory uses some pretty tough sealant on that lid.
Thats probly whats holding it on.

Try and pry around the edge of the lid maybe that'll pop it loose.