Decided to take the 440-6 'Bird for a drive. It's been sitting, so I had the fluids topped up, gave it a safety check, and hit the road. It runs great, and the Flowmaster exhaust system is awesome coming off the factory manifolds.

So, I park it and notice coolant dripping down from under/behind the glove compartment. I figure this might be a bad heater core. Maybe? Or a bad hose/clamp? Anyway, my question is:

What needs to be remove to diagnose/repair the problem? Can it be done from the engine compartment only? Or is underdash work needed...and does that need the dash to come off?

Thanks!

I'm assuming non A/C.. Take the heater hoses off & the 3? 4? nuts securing the heater box on the firewall then go inside & you'll find a 5/16 headed bolt with a washer all the way to the right side going straight up into the plenum that bolt secures a hook the pulls the heater box up to the plenum.. Loosen it about 10 turns... then you need to take one more 7/16 headed bolt loose that attaches a metal strap to the center area of the heater box, the other end of the strap goes up to the cowl... once thats unbolted you can release the plenum hook that you loosen earlier & lower the heater box down to make disconnecting the wires & cables easier.. Then lift the box out & head for the bench.. Contact Jim Filmore AKA 71TA AKA DTM to get a seal & gskt kit... Heater cores are readily avalible but they aren't correct, the tubes are to short & when you install the heater box only 3/8-1/2" sticks out throught the firewall... I suggest taking your heater core in & have it recored... And explain to the radiator shop why you want the recore or they will do ya a favor & just get you a new one.... I'd also consider doing the heater motor while the box is out... But again I've had trouble getting a new one that actually fits correctly... The outlet for the rubber hose that blows cooling air through the motor is usually clocked wrong....

Thanks!

As an aside, can I temporarily connect the two hoses and run the car with the heater out?

Yes. Folks do it all the time.