Time For A Heater Core
 

My truck decided that it wanted a new heater core now that's it's well below freezing out. So, anybody ever done this and have any advice or even better a how to article. I know the dash has to come out, I just don't want to pull out anything more then I have to and want to fix everything I can that may need replaced while I'm in there.

It's not terribly difficult, just involved. The dash doesn't have to come out of the truck(although the manual says it does), you'll just have to swing the passenger side up and to the rear. I propped it up with a piece of 2x4.....others have used straps attached to the grab handle.
I would advise replacing the AC evaporator while the case is out.....it'll add @ $100 to the parts bill, but it beats doing the job over again when you have to swap the evaporator.
Tons of articles out on the web on this repair......

Trust me its worth the time and money to change the evap...lol

Just got done with this myself.

Didn't mess with the E-vap because I didn't want to discharge the A/C.

I used the NAPA core Part # 6601767, it has swiveling I/O tubes so you don't have to remove the heater box from the truck.

3 things I would suggest.

1. Remove the spring clips from the A/C lines right outside the firewall and unbolt the accumulator on the A/C so you can unbolt the heater box and move it back a little, would have made it a snap to drop in the new core. ( read this on another forum and decided not to try it for whatever reason.)

2. Source new seals for the heater core because the NAPA one does not come with any (had to make my own as the factory core wasn't lettin' go of them.)

3. Buy 2 new heater hoses (NAPA #9808 quantity 2), I tried every trick in the book and ended up slicing mine to get them off.

Other than that it went fairly smooth, all said it took about 3.5 hours with me being ultra cautious.

https://www.dieselbombers.com/24-val...ater-core.html
https://www.dieselbombers.com/24-val...ater-core.html
https://www.dieselbombers.com/24-val...ater-core.html
https://www.dieselbombers.com/24-val...eplacment.html

I tore into mine once to remove the evaporator and clean it out. It was plugged and I had minimum air flow. If I were to do it again for any reason, I would replace the heater core and evaporator. It a full day job to get it in and out, and I do suggest removing the entire dash. Having the dash supported sounds like a short cut that will bite you in the arse later. When it is fully out, it gives an excellent opportunity to inspect everything behind the dash, and if so inclined to do so, add a layer of sound proofing. If my dash comes off again, the sound proofing will go on as well as a new heater core and evaporator.

my brother said i need a new evap for my rig, he said the dash has to come off. as far as replacing it, you guys recommend just going in by the heater core? my dash is cracked, was thinking bout replacing it(or just throw a dashboard cover on it) what y'all think? I wish i could work on it myself, but korea is a ways away from my rig in Illinois. lmao

i just did it to mine. went ahead and changed out the evaporator coil also since its right next to the heater core. saved me from havin to tear the dash apart again in the future

I got mine from O'rielys, highly recommended.

if you loosen the bolts one on eachside behind kicker panel then bolts under srs plastic on tran hump then two bolts holding steering wheel the dash will rotate forward and you can axcess every thing behind it including the screws behind the top dash plastic if thats all cracked up might as well replace that if you have the money while your there.

I remember talking about different cores at one time, and someone said they found one with more cores. More cores for more heat. I don't think they ever got back to me about it though. Wish I could fins that again.

The one at O'reileys has more cores:tu:

Considering that I work for oriellys and get my discount there, I suspect that will be where these parts come from. Im a tightass when It comes to money and they give a killer employee discount. I'll let ya know what I find out on the core when I work next and lookup the parts.

Dodge ram heater core replacement - YouTube This is how I have done them.

Looked these parts up today. Orielly's numbers are as follows.

Heater Core: Part number 398313 $51.61 Murray Brand
Evaporator: Part Number 54166 $106.95 Murray Brand

No information available as to how many cores are in this one though.

I did my heater core a couple of years ago, sure wish I would have done the evap at the same time because guess what this past summer she sprung a leak....:argh:

This video is cool. He makes it look simple. I just wish it would work that simple for me when I do it, but I know better. That's not how my projects go.

Dodge Heater Core
 

hey, did you end up doing it your self or send it out?

any permanent fixes for the 2nd gen dash?

yeah, replace it with a new one from LMC truck. :tu: