Dash has been out for some time while I've been slowly doing a refinish/crack repair. My heater core was bi-passed when I bought the car, guessing it had issues, and the metal pipes sticking out of the firewall that were bi-passed were rusted quite a bit.

I have a new heater-core but I have no clue where the old one is, I removed some stuff but to no avail and the FSM didn't help a bit as usual

The radiator visible in center is for the A/C correct? I really hope that is not the heater core as the one I bought looks NOTHING like that besides being a radiator.

Anyhow here is what my car looks like, now I read it is somewhere on the passenger side, I'm guessing behind that fan circular looking thing, but I'd rather get confirmation before I just go tearing everything apart again...

I could see it in the FSM. If you look in the AC section, you'll find the general layout of the system. It's around AC-8 to AC-10

The AC evaporator is what you see in behind the vents. If you follow the defroster vent hose back to the climate control system, you should be able to see the heater core. Edit: I should say heater core location.

Edited January 8, 201213 yr by SteveJ

I am not familiar with the 280Z, so take what I say with a big grain of salt. But, the "radiator" you see at the top appears to be the AC evaporator. The heater core should be in the airbox behind/below that (box that the defrost ducts are connected to).

Any 280Z owners, please chime in!

So removing the vent/temp gauge will probably be necessary? I looked through the AC section but it didn't appear very clear I'll look again, thanks!

Forgot about carpartsmanual website! So it says #5 is the actual heater core, so in that box down there, guess I'll find a way to dig in and get the sucker!

Yes, you're on the right track now. It won't be fun or easy, but that's the price of having an AC system designed into the car.