Mark,

You can't leave me in suspense like this!

"In my case it took longer but that was because I modified the heater box
and air intake system to improve the output for the front heater."

What did you do, and did it work?  I'm putting a new core and fan this
weekend.

Lee
89 syncro

On 12/5/07, Mark Tuovinen <mst@ak.net> wrote:
>
> Dan,
>
> I have not tried, and it has been a while since I even looked at a rear
> core, but I do not think that it would be worth the effort to try.  The
> front core has two hose nipples parallel to each other, the rear has the
> valve, and it's nipples are perpendicular to the core.  The length and width
> is probably different as well.  Pulling the dash and replacing the front
> core is not hard, nor does it take that long to do most of the job.  The
> time consuming part comes once the dash is out and you have the heater box
> in your hands.  It takes almost as long to split the case, install new foam
> on the vent doors, and replace the core as it does to remove or install the
> dash.  In my case it took longer but that was because I modified the heater
> box and air intake system to improve the output for the front heater.  The
> dash has two screws at each end(in the door jambs), five small screws at the
> base of the windshield(the larger ones are for the wipers), four bolts for
> the steering column
> , 3 screws for the heater controls, four for the instruments, 2 screws for
> the column covers, plus disconnecting the wiring harnesses, speedo cable,
> etc.  You also need to pull your radio, or leave it in and disconnect it
> when you pull the dash out, this won't work for all radios.  Syncro's with
> diff. lock have a few more screws and a knob to unscrew.  The lower dash
> trim/vent and glove box come off as well.
>
> Mark in AK
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Dan Barrett <dbx@POBOX.COM>
> Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2007 6:48 am
> Subject: rear heater core in front, was: New thermostat funky?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> > All:
> >  This raises a question which I've been pondering since last
> > winter, when
> > the rear heater alone saved my bacon -- in a blinding snowstorm, my
> > radiator clogged and the temp gauge spiked.  I cranked the rear heater
> > (my front heater blower is dead), the engine temp went down to
> > acceptable levels, and I made it to my destination not long
> > thereafter.
> >  This year, I'm thinking about finally doing the dreaded front heater
> > blower / heater core dashboard massacre, but given the output of the
> > rear heater core and the cost of a new front heater core, has anyone
> > ever tried putting a rear core into the front heater box?  I
> > realize it
> > would take some modification to get the rear heater core mounted in
> > there, but do I recall correctly that the black plastic portion on the
> > core which mates to the heater control valve is the same on both
> > cores?
> >  Apologies if this has been asked and answered before.
> >
> > Best,
> > d.
> > 1990 GL -- "Mudskipper"
> >
>