Heater Core Question

Hi,

I just replaced the heater core on my '85. My question is about the way the car is reassembling. You have to remove the big awkward plastic carapace (cover) to the a/c and the heater core to get to the core. I noticed some sealer (putty type of stuff) in between the carapace and the part the carapace was mating to.

When I tried to put the carapace back into position to replace all the screws, it would not mate perfectly with the other part. There was a small gap between it and the other part. I took it off again, felt all around inside the thing, for something blocking the way, didn't find anything, tried to put it back together again. Same problem, that darn gap again ( about an eighth of an inch). I think there may have been sealer in these spots that won't mate right. I can't remember exactly where all the sealer was. Getting unobservant lately, I guess !

The screws go in OK, but that gap is still there. Annoying. This gap I'm talking about is in the front part of the carapace. The rest of it fits together OK.

The new core works fine, and the heating functionality is OK.

Anyone know what I'm talking about? Anyone else notice this gap when replacing their heater core???

Thanks

Hi,

I just replaced the heater core on my '85. My question is about the way the car is reassembling. You have to remove the big awkward plastic carapace (cover) to the a/c and the heater core to get to the core. I noticed some sealer (putty type of stuff) in between the carapace and the part the carapace was mating to.

When I tried to put the carapace back into position to replace all the screws, it would not mate perfectly with the other part. There was a small gap between it and the other part. I took it off again, felt all around inside the thing, for something blocking the way, didn't find anything, tried to put it back together again. Same problem, that darn gap again ( about an eighth of an inch). I think there may have been sealer in these spots that won't mate right. I can't remember exactly where all the sealer was. Getting unobservant lately, I guess !

The screws go in OK, but that gap is still there. Annoying. This gap I'm talking about is in the front part of the carapace. The rest of it fits together OK.

The new core works fine, and the heating functionality is OK.

Anyone know what I'm talking about? Anyone else notice this gap when replacing their heater core???

Thanks

What year is the car? EDIT: NM note to self: it's an '85 stupid

I replaced the heater core on my own car last weekend and I used silicone in place of the old seals that were understandably toast.

What year is the car?

I replaced the heater core on my own car last weekend and I used silicone in place of the old seals that were understandably toast.

Silicon,

It's a 1985. I didn't notice any seals on mine, just this putty stuff here and there. Was there a gap in yours? Or did everything fit back together nice and tight ??

I just figured it out. I was changing the oil today and had another look at the setup. . I had let one of the vacuum hoses get under the carapace, and the hose was making the whole thing too high, therefore the gap. Fixed it.