And BTW I just looked on Rock Auto. Get the Spectra Premium A/C evaporator core, it is insulated in foam just like the factory core.

 

great input guys. i appreciate what yall have said so far.

i guess we just go and buy random foam pieces and cut them to fit?

i think i'll try this stuff when i get the funds, but i will have a shop mess with charging and vacuuming the a/c

 

great info guys!!!!! just finished replacing the heater core in my truck... a buddy and I were able to knock it out in under 3 and a half hours... and didn't have to touch the AC stuff... we were able to squeeze the heater core out and the new one slid right in.... Once the 4 bolts were out from inside the engine bay... took good amount of wiggling and pulling to free the box but after that i was able to just clear the old heater core from the fire wall and pull it out! Didn't have to do anything with the AC. The only thing I saw missing from the instructions was the two bolts that hold the dash in the center... once those were free it wasn't to bad at all. Only tool I would recommend would be the long extension with an elbow to sneak into a few of the tight places...

Thanks for the info guys!!! saved myself over 600 dollars by doing it myself. and this was the first time i have done this... Instructions couldn't have been better!!!!

 

yeah just for kicks, i stopped by a local shop here who i trust a lot. they used to work on my parents vehicles. he quoted me a price of $1000 which was $1000 cheaper than the other shops!!!

he gave me some pointers about the evap. core and some of the other parts and recommended to get the evap. core from the dealership. the reason being because aftermarket parts like the evap. core are sometimes smaller than the OE and there may be rattling or extra airflow over the box.

dealerships rip everyone off so is there a website that is reasonably priced and OE parts. i have been looking at rockauto and ...ebay(not most credible). and i have heard the term HVAC. what does that stand for again?

 

Heating,Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

 

Its still $1000!

MY
The Evap core I bought from NAPA was the exact same size as the factory one I pulled out. Although it doesnt come wrapped in foam (I used some house weatherstripping and pipe insulation from Lowes on mine) like the factory one, it is still good. And anyways since you wrap the core in foam, if you do it right, it shouldnt rattle, and mine doesnt. But the Spectra Prenium core from Rock Auto looks like it is wrapped just like the factory one in foam. If I known this 3 months ago, I would have gotten it!

MOPAR.BIZ is a great place to get Mopar parts, they are usually much cheaper. I got my Heater core from them, it was $230 from my local dealer and at Mopar.BIZ it was $180 w/shipping. I think the evaporator core is $290 from them.

 

yeah i figured thats what HVAC was short for. thanks for the input purpl, i'll take a look at that one online. and yeah $1000 is freaking expensive but i don't have anyone else to help me on this project. not to mention the tools for this project or how to vacuum out the lines or which oil goes in what. i just don't want to jack this up. i think the $1000 was labor and parts, i'm sure it will be cheaper when i bring my own parts, it always is.

 

After reading all the great information in this thread I'm going to replace my heater core that went out the other day. While I'm in there I will be also be replacing the A/C Evaporator Core (bases on suggestions here).

Here are the parts that I was planning on using from RockAuto.com;

FOUR SEASONS Part # 54166 - A/C Evap core
SPECTRA PREMIUM Part # 94466 - Heater Core

While I'm in there, is there anything else that I should replace or should have on-hand "just in case" ? Hoses, wire, foam insulation, tools? I want to make sure I replace anything else that I may need. I don't want to have to pull the dash off again if I don't have too.

 

New heater hose depending how old yours is and maybe some foam (I used rubber) insulation to replace the pieces between the firewall.

I used a piece of water pipe insulation from home depot :



cut into the shape of the old foam piece that fits between the heater box and the firewall to fill the gap around the heater core hoses into the engine bay. The old piece was falling apart .. I also use some self sticking window sealer foam tape to wrap around the outside of the new heater core and a/c evap to fill the gap just like the factory had.


Example of the foam around the old a/c evap :



Here is what I ordered from rock auto. Dont forget to replace the Receiver Drier everytime the A/C system is opened up. Also evacuate the a/c system before you recharge the system.

ACDELCO 151852 (15-1852) A/C Receiver Drier $ 34.89
FOUR SEASONS 54166 A/C Evaporator Core $ 83.79
SPECTRA PREMIUM 94466 Heater Core $ 54.79

 

I would add THIS to assist in preventing the above picture. I'll be replacing my core this spring and adding a cab-fresh filter assembly is one thing I'll be doing. Besides, they spread liquid manure around these parts...good gawd does that smell bad! Carbon filter might help that just a little bit.