i need to purchase a new heater core..first off

what brand should i buy? i was told some lordco jobber brands r good enuff..

and can someone gimmie some hints on what steps to take and what needs to be done.. thanx

 

I replaced mine myself in my '95. And I'm not very mechanically inclined. I just went over to the Pontiac dealership and bought the new one. I already had my Haynes manual. I just opened it up and followed the steps. The hardest part was pulling the hoses off of the old one.

So, that should give you an idea how easy it is.

 

With my 94, I drained the radiator... Removed the glove box... Took off the round cover from the heater core housing... Then loosened the two heater hose clamps in the engine compartment and twisted and pulled the hoses off.. Then I went back under the dash and unbolted the one bolt and bracket holding the core in and removed it... Pretty simple like he said above.

 

Is is leaking or clogged?

 

oh thanx alot, looks simple enuff, just looks scary at first i guess..

daddySS... yes its leaking lol, i had a full inch of orange coolant on the rug of the passenger seat lol.. i've got it bypassed for the time being lol

 

I removed both the kick panel and the glove box on the pass. side so I could work though one hole and see though the other. Also on the 97, after you take the hoses off, in the engine compartment is a bracket that holds the two heater core lines in place. It goes over the top of the lines and is held in one place with a single screw in between the two lines. I think it's an 8mm screw. This has to be removed before you can pull the core out from the inside of the car. Also there is a foam seal around the two lines that is kind of a pain to put back if it comes loose. You can get the core at any autoparts store.
I would also rate this job as easy.