My 95 Jimmy is leaking antifreeze onto the passenger side floor.
I'm guessing heater core since my heat is weak and I can smell it inside.
My guestion is can I just hack at the firewall to access the core.
I really don't want to drop the dash .

 

lol. sadly ive wondered this myself and im sure in some weird way it is possible i just dont know how the heck youd put it back together, be hard to weld it without catching the inside on fire. one ghetto thing ive done in the past with a 85 offroad truck i had the heater core blew so i took a heatercore i had laying around drilled two holes in the firewall for the hoses to come into the passenger compartment and just let it hang there with a small fan ziptied to it. it actually worked pretty good.

 

Taking the dash out is really not all the difficult; only way to replace the heater core. About the hardest thing is remembering where all the screws go from the four lower trim panels that have to come out.

Center console comes out first, then all the dash lower trim panels. I think I lossen the column bolts so to get the dash front panel off. Dash speakers come out, etc.

The dash sits on two pins on each end that lets the dash rotate, top of dash away from windshield. Best to have another person help lift and carry the dash out of the vehicle.

Hopefully you have a garage to do this task in. Would not want to do this outside in cold temps.

Good luck.

 

Actually I prefer abig84 s remedy as I spent 12 hours on the first job and 7 on the second job! Trouble is this Jimmy gets driven LOOONG miles! 14 states in 3 weeks,so that wouldv'e been a little inconvenient,good idea for a farm Blazer tho!

 

There is a right way and wrong way to do things. Right way on this is remove the dash. OUCH yup thats the best alternative in the long run.

 

Hey guys, first time posting here, just wanted to say that I just replaced my heater core in my 97 yesterday. I was able to do it without completely removing the dash. I took off the lower panels and removed the dash carrier bolts allowing it to pivot down. I then just worked around behind the dash from both the top and bottom. It isn't the most comfortable way to do it as you have to contort your body in all kinds of positions, but it CAN be done that way. To me, it was easier that disconnecting all the wiring behind the dash so it can be taken all the way out.