Didn't really think I had enough to say about installing a new heater core in my car to justify wasting space in the "how-to" section. If any other mods think it would contribute to the greater good then please feel free to move this to where it would apply. I hate dealing with interiors of cars. I keep to under the hood as much as possible, just ask anyone who knows me. This job sucked, that's all I can say about that. I'd rather do my transfer case by myself with the car on jackstands again, heck, I'd rather do a clutch with the car on a lift than having to do this again. But this is all besides the point. After one year of having a bypassed heater core I now have control over my a/c temps, a heater, and defrost again. Getting the a/c heater box out of the car is a pain but that's half the battle. The disassembly of the actual box is where patience is your friend. What does really suck is that the next day when I took the car to have a friend at the dealership refill it with refrigerant I find out that there is a repair kit for our cars to fix the inevitable binding problem of the temp adjustment control. This kit must be installed while the ac/heater box is out and disassembled Pics were taken by a very tired me with a camera phone so take them for what they are worth.

 

that looks painful....

 

I have a quick question. Is there a "dash cover" on the dash? Meaning is the top piece seperate from the rest of the dash? Thanks.

 

there is, but the screws holding it can only be accessed after the dash is removed.

 

poor poor evo...

 

Yeah, the screws afixing the dash cover to the rest of the assembly really would only be reached when everything is out of the car. Don't worry, it's all back together and good as new now and my feet can stay nice and toasty while driving again

 

Wow. I'm sure that was alot of work. Do you have any rattles after all that?

 

Wow, what a pain in the ***. That would suck.

 

dam i though zip tying vacum hosses was a pain in the ***

 

Nah, no rattles. I'd have the whole damn thing back apart if I heard one. Been driving down rough roads, taking it through every rpm range imaginable and believe it or not the few vibrations that were their from day one are now gone

 

My heat knob is difficult to turn and I'm thinking of getting the kit parts and pulling the heater box. Your pictures are a wake up call for what I am in for. So, thanks, -I guess.

 

I did this too, my Lancer has pretty much the same dash as evos, i was repainting it, and scratched it up putting it back in :P it's not as difficult as you think except i was left with a few extra bolts i missed =/

 

I imagine you had do some interesting contortions to get that dash out. would removing the windshield have helped?

 

What I found to be some of the key points of going beyond just a dash removal were: discharging/recharging a/c refrigerant, some issues I had with the steering column, and safely pulling the crash beam off far enough back to get the ac/heater box out of the car. And yeah, this was one of those jobs where being a smaller guy did pay off

 

I feel your pain.
I had to do this twice.