Oh that does not look like fun...even worse in 100 deg heat.

Yeah, heater cores and A/C evaporators are never any fun.

That one is among the dirtiest I've ever seen.

Being a 23 year old vehicle, everything I touch, breaks, so I am having to replace a lot more than I had planned. Thanks to youtube videos I was able to just move the dash instead of disconnecting all the wiring through the firewall and completely removing the dash. And thanks to another youtube showing all the screw locations and sizes I was able to loosen the evap/blower housing from the firewall and blindly get to all the screws to take that housing apart without fully removing it from the truck. I removed the front seats too which made it so much easier. Still this project really really sucks. I don't plan on driving this one much longer, so if I had known what I was getting myself into, I would have just drove it with the windows down and left it alone.

I can guarantee it.

It’s just too hot to work that hard. My mercury thermostat in the barn shows 104.

“Sir, we pulled your cabin air filter and I think you’d better look at this….”

Seeing how my heater stopped working last January, likely from a clogged heater core, and the fact it requires full removal of the front seats and entire dash, that’s a job I’ll be paying to have done.

This is what I did last night. I feel the pain

The coil in my Toyota pickup looked like that. I had to remove the entire dash to get to it. Even with the help of YouTube it was a monster project. And all of the old plastic stuff kept breaking,

YouTube videos can be very helpful. I have saved money and aggravation by watching videos and doing the job myself...Now, I'm talking very, very, very simple things. Nothing anywhere close to the jobs you guys are doing.
Good luck and stay hydrated.

I'm retired and don't need to drive this one anywhere anytime soon. I'm not doing it all in one day. For sure not working on it during the hottest part of the day.

That looks like a no fun at all work out.

I like that kind of work but in this heat it’s a mother…

You know I heard a guy say years ago - "if my door knob breaks I call the door knob repairman. "

I learned years ago (because I have been self employed) that I netted more money by going to work at my business and let someone else fix all the stuff. I can fix things but I prefer to let someone else do it because what I pay them ends up being less if I spend my time on my business.

I realize not everyone can not hire someone but there is a break point where you have to go "am I better off paying someone and making more $ at my job" or is it worth the headache to fix it myself - just my 2 cents

The compressor on my '01 Silverado went out five years ago. My mechanic said he found an after-market compressor for $200. But if I bought the Delco compressor for $283 it came with an evaporator core and and accumulator. Glad I spent the extra $$.

I’m a pretty good fixer, but know when it’s time to do an Oxner and call The Man.

Man you could farm/grow something on that core
Glad you got it out.

I had to remove my whole dash to the firewall once.

Impressive work there. Real man stuff... am with you on taking it on yourself to save a bunch of money.

What make model year milage and history on that heater core?

If it’s a Ram change out the blend door while you’re there.

I once traced an alternator wire from the dash cluster, through the firewall(in a thick wire bundle), down the left side of the engine, across the front of the engine and back to the right front wheel well. A rodent had chewed a wire here in the bundle that plugged into a second alternator if the vehicle had one spec'd. I didn't want to do the job but the mechanic I took it to could not find the problem.

That looks fairly easy compared to this

99 suburban. I am sure it's the original evaporator core. There was nothing wrong with the heater, but since I had to pull the heater core out anyway I am replacing it too. And both actuators. Broke the heater switch on the heater hose today while disconnecting it so have that ordered. I replaced all the front AC hoses, compressor, and condenser. I bet I dug out a square foot of bug parts from behind the condenser. Bought a vacuum pump and gauges for the AC when I finally charge it. I figure I will have a grand invested. I would have spent more than the vehicle is worth if I paid someone else. And I probably did that already just buying parts.

My dad was a B36 bomber mechanic and owned auto parts stores, so it's in my blood to fix my own stuff. I did give in and pay a friend to put a transmission in the suburban 4 years ago. I had the transmission and transmission jack ready to go. I had hot rodded transmissions and installed them a few times back when I was into racing so no big deal, but I was a young man then. But that last one I decided at the last minute I was getting too old to be fighting with stuff that heavy anymore. Or like my wife tries to tell me. "You worked all those years to be able to pay other people to do this stuff, so pay someone else". This project is just for therapy I guess. It's keeping my mind occupied and off thinking about losing my dog.

Thundervee,
That is what mine called for, but thanks to a youtube video showing me where the hidden screws were and what extensions I needed, I was able to just lower the steering wheel and pull the dash out one one side. (not pictured) Then dismantle that evaporator box without pulling the whole thing out. It honestly may have turned out more difficult, but I got the new evaporator in and the box partially together, so I am over the hump.