Swapping heater hoses...necessary to remove blower?

[BRE-240Z]

Hi guys. I'm at the point in my restoration where I want to replace the (original) heater hoses with some new OEM hoses. I have the molded hoses from Nissan all ready to go on.

I was looking at where the hoses come into the passenger compartment last night, and I'm wondering if there's enough room to get my hands up in there to the heater valve without removing the heater blower housing and motor, or if I'm going to have to start disassembling stuff under there....

If it does have to come out, what's involved? Just the four bolts to the firewall and the control cable, or is it more involved than that? I have a FSM and I should look at it, I know, but I'm at work and it's at home and I'm just trying to plan my evening....

Has anyone else done this recently? Any advice would be appreciated.

[sblake01]

I've done it on a 280z without removing anything but the hoses. It's a tight squeeze but it can be done.

[hls30.com]

Stephen is on it, put a towel in the floor, put on some safety glasses to keep the ethelyne glycol ot of your eyes, don't drink any, and get-r-done!

There is a lot more room with the blower out of the way, and for the few bolts and wire connector...

WIll

[BRE-240Z]

Stephen is on it, put a towel in the floor, put on some safety glasses to keep the ethelyne glycol ot of your eyes, don't drink any, and get-r-done!

Thanks, fellers. I've been dreading this little chore, as you can probably tell.....

[rtaylor]

I just did mine a few months ago. There is enough room and as Stephan says it is a tight fit. I had to cut the upper clamp off with a Dremel mototool though, as the head of the screw securing the oem clamp faced up, and I could not get to it. Also, the philip head screws that secure the heater valve may strip if you don't get the right amount of pressure. One of mine did. I replaced those screws with ss allenhead bolts obtained from my local ACE and it sure made the install easier.

[Doehring]

It's not that difficult as I thought before. I took out the passenger's seat before.Good luck!

Rolf

[BRE-240Z]

I just did mine a few months ago. There is enough room and as Stephan says it is a tight fit. I had to cut the upper clamp off with a Dremel mototool though, as the head of the screw securing the oem clamp faced up, and I could not get to it. Also, the philip head screws that secure the heater valve may strip if you don't get the right amount of pressure. One of mine did. I replaced those screws with ss allenhead bolts obtained from my local ACE and it sure made the install easier.

Is it better to remove the valve before removing the hoses, or to try to do it with the valve still in place?

[Pir0San]

I've done it as well, one of my hoses cracked, and it needed to be replaced. Do you still have your glove box liner intact? If you do not, then taking out the blower will be a pretty easy job, and make the install easier. There are four bolts holding the blower onto the firewall (if I remember correctly, I could be wrong), and the top ones are easy to get to w/o a glove box liner.

Good luck.

[Utah Z]

Just replaced mine yesterday. The PO had replaced them and used regulars hose clamps with a 5/16 head. I couldn't get a nut driver or flat head screw driver on it. What I did was us 1/4 in. drive ratchet with a universal joint to allow me to get the angle I needed. Once I got the hose clamp off I used a razor knife and sliced the hose length wise and peeled the hose off the nipple. I didn't remove the blower, but it would have made it a lot eazier.

[240ZX]

Is it better to remove the valve before removing the hoses, or to try to do it with the valve still in place?

Speaking of the heater valve....there is no better time to replace the heater valve than while you're replacing the hoses! It will be worth the satisfaction of knowing its all fresh!

Tom

[rtaylor]

Remove the valve. Much easier.