Coolant leak on passenger floorboard?

Coolant leak on passenger floorboard? - 01/01/12 10:28 PM

After driving my '73 Dart Sport 340 this morning, I noticed a pretty substantial coolant leak on the passenger side floorboard. What do you think -- does this sound like a heater core issue -- or something else? If it's related to the heater core, how big of a repair job is this? Hopefully I won't need to take the dash apart to get at it.

Also, this is a factory A/C car.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Posted By: terzmo

Re: Coolant leak on passenger floorboard? - 01/01/12 10:31 PM

heater core...not hard to replace...little stretching with a good back

Posted By: Secret Chimp

Re: Coolant leak on passenger floorboard? - 01/01/12 10:58 PM

Get a kit from detroitmuscletechnologies.com - looks like you might have to email him, he doesn't have his 73+ A-body kits listed.

Posted By: I_bleed_MOPAR

Re: Coolant leak on passenger floorboard? - 01/01/12 11:09 PM

Not too sure about your weather but you could by-pass the heater core, at least until you fix it (if you want to keep driving it).

Tim

Posted By: DartSportDude

Re: Coolant leak on passenger floorboard? - 01/01/12 11:31 PM

Quote:

Not too sure about your weather but you could by-pass the heater core, at least until you fix it (if you want to keep driving it).

Tim

I thought about the bypass option, but isn't that done on the engine bay side? I don't want something that looks half-assed on my firewall.

Crap, from what I've been reading, this heater core replacement sounds like a major pain on an A/C car.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Coolant leak on passenger floorboard? - 01/02/12 01:59 AM

Yes bypass it on the eng side & pull the heater/ac box to get at the heater core.

Posted By: I_bleed_MOPAR

Re: Coolant leak on passenger floorboard? - 01/02/12 02:13 AM

Quote:

I thought about the bypass option, but isn't that done on the engine bay side? I don't want something that looks half-assed on my firewall.

Crap, from what I've been reading, this heater core replacement sounds like a major pain on an A/C car.

You can probably get some rubber caps at the parts store to plug off the hose inlet and outlet on the engine (don't forget the hose clamps

) or simply make a 180* bend in a piece of heater hose (not too pretty but not real noticeable). And while you're at it, you could push a couple of the caps on to the heater core pipes just to clean up the looks (better than the bare pipes sticking out of the firewall).
And yes, removing an a/c-heater box is not for the timid of heart. Take your time and document everything, most instructions or manuals aren't that clear on what goes where.

Tim

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Coolant leak on passenger floorboard? - 01/02/12 02:30 AM

Quote:

Crap, from what I've been reading, this heater core replacement sounds like a major pain on an A/C car.

It will not be fun. Do it on a good (attitude) day & take a long break if frustration sets in. On the eng side blow some water from your garden hose (lightly) thru the heater hoses both ways to get the coolant all out before you start (trust me on that one) & do what you need to do to get the valve open so you can flush it. Keep in mind that heaters work w 15 lbs and water faucets have 60 (at least in Nebraska) so easy w the spray nozzle in the heater hose