It's good that these things are hidden under the dash where no one can see them. More of you than not will have a heat-only box so yours might be simpler and lighter, but the procedures that apply will be the same for both. If you are pulling yours out of a car with an intact interior, it would be wise to pull the front seat and also protect your carpet from dripping antifreeze.
Have you ever noticed that there are some aspects of a musclecar restoration that are not very glamorous? I'm not talking about getting dirty rebuilding your engine or being coated in dust as you prep your car for paint. There are rewards for successfully completing those jobs. A well-detailed, strong engine or flawless, baby-butt smooth paint will bring you a lot of praise for your efforts.
But when was the last time you heard anyone remark about how great someone's heater box looks . . . probably never. But I'll bet you appreciate a properly working A/C on those mid-summer afternoons, or a little heat on a late-season, early morning cruise. If nothing else, you'd simply like your heater core to not drip antifreeze on your fresh carpet. No, it's not a glamorous job, but it's oh so much easier (read actually possible) if you take the time to pull the whole assembly out of the car.
This heater/air-conditioning box is out of a '68 Barracuda and is part of our progressive restoration series. The guys at Muscle Car Restorations (MCR) have done a lot of these over the years and have few tips that will save you some time and frustration.
