Please Help!!! Heater core issue :(

[Tamerlane]

I have a 1990 Dodge Daytona, it is the G body with the newer interior.

Can you remove the heater core without discharing the AC system or removing/destroying the dash

I believe that my heater core has gone because I smell antifreeze when using the heater and sometimes when I am driving from inside with the windows rolled up. I also noticed that the coolant tank is slowing losing coolant as well. I did a pressure check and sure enough it won't hold pressure and drops about 1 psi per minute when started at 15 pounds pressure.

My question is, is there a way to change the heater core without taking the entire dash appart or cutting a bunch of plastic to get to it? I looked in my shop manual and it keeps talking about removing the entire core by cutting some plastic parts and discharging the AC system.

I don't want to discharge the system because I am still on R-12. So is there a way to get that heater core out of there?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have removed the entire dash before and it is a lot of work so I hope there is another way of doing this.

Sincerely,

Shaun

[GOLIATHGMC]

Shaun,
I am sorry to break your heart, but I think you are in for some work. I have put off a heater core change for several years now for the same reason- it is a huge project. I have an '86 Daytona, and although the dash and cluster are totally different, I believe the "Box" that contains the HVAC system under it is the same or similar. Since I only drive my Z in the warm weather, I got away with just disconnecting the heater core- however, the A/C is not blowing very cold anymore, and it is showing signs of leaking oil around the hose connections in the engine compartment (not bad for a 20 year old car). So, its time to yank it all. I have tried to find a way around this job for about 5 years, and everyone including chrysler techs have told me that there is no shortcut. If it makes you feel any better, this same issue exists with other cars and manufacturers as well - they just dont build them to be maintained easily.
George
REBEL Motorsports

[convdart]

I did a heater core in a '86 Shelby Charger and that was no fun. What I had wound up doing to avoid pulling the A/C was to cut the top after loosening it all the way. It takes a lot of work and may not work under that dash, but we were able to tape the top back up with metal tape (or duct tape would work too) and it worked ok...the only problem was the stupid new heater core we put in leaked as well. It didn't come back out though...good luck with it, if all else fails just bypass it.