i thought you could take the heater assembly out w/o pulling the dash. guess i was wrong. i was following the fsm instructions and like a dummy i didn't think that the "instrument panel" meant the dashboard. but she aint budgin.

 

i do want to pull the whole heater unit out as it has a leak and the blower stopped working so i want to test everything and put back in a good functioning unit. any advise? i've pulled 2 gen 2 dashes and they are a pain in the nutz. tell me this will be so much easier. i did notice that the top bolts are easier to get on than gen 2s.

Yeah if it is a gen 1 Brat. The 3 bolts on top and I think there are 4 on the bottom. It is pretty simple. You also will have to unplug a connecter or 2. I think the headlight switch needs to be unplugged and maybe one or two more. It has been a while since I did it myself.

Well, on some cars you can cut the side off the heater box under the dash and pull the core out the side. Cut carefully, and glue back in place with the new core.

Well, on some cars you can cut the side off the heater box under the dash and pull the core out the side. Cut carefully, and glue back in place with the new core.

 

I think that would be a no go on the first gens, since it also contains the heater controls, vents, and blower in an area about the size of a five gallon bucket. It's really easy to pull the dash out of one though, should take less than an hour to tear it all apart.

 

Good luck!

Yeah, from what I can tell, pulling a GenI dash would be a LOT easier than newer cars.

Ahhh. I guess I somehow missed that this was a 1st gen!

Ahhh. I guess I somehow missed that this was a 1st gen!

 

lol, well I don't guess that was actually stated, other than the fact he said it easier to get at than a gen 2, I just assumed since it's in the historic forum.

i just took mine out and recoverd it. and put it back in with ease. (79 brat) ill help ya with any questions.