How hard is it to replace a heat core in our trucks? How many hours do you think it will take a pretty handy driveway mechanic?

 

Not hard but a long proses. Ya you would be able to do it. My guess 4-5 hours for careful removal and reinstallation .The service manual will have details.

Why are you messing with it now? It is summer, you wont need it.

 

Well the 2001 smells like antifreeze when I turn the heat on, sure it is only a matter of time before it gets really bad, and I am thinking about getting rid of the 95 and don't want to give it away as it is. I have the heater core already in my garage, or else i wouldn't worry about it so much. I also have the gauges and vacuum to recharge the AC so I am not worried about that part anymore. I think I need to discharge the AC to change it if I remember right. I can handle 4-5 hours. No problem. If I don't do them both now it will be snowing before I know it.

 

So the 2001 is the one with a bad bad heater core? Or is that a typo?

Ya the manual says the AC lines have to opened up. If I remember correctly someone found a way around it.

 

Both trucks need a new heater core unfortunately. The 95 only blows warm/cold at idle, hot when the truck is moving. Tried to flush it out with no luck. The 01 smells like antifreeze when I turn the heat on. I had originally meant to post only about the 95, just threw it out there that I had to attempt this twice.

I have the heater core for the 95 already so I figure I will tackle that one first.