Wedge Heater core leak. What am i in for?

[Got_All_4]

70+ degrees today in ohio so I planned to get the 7 out and go for a ride. Surprise the lines to the heater core must have rotted through or the heater went. The coolant has a dye in it and this stood out like a sore thumb. Is this common and what am I in for? Didn't need another project.

 

[PeterK]

You can loop the in and out hoses together to bypass the heater altogether. You won't need it for a while so go for a drive and think about it later.

 

[Got_All_4]

The hoses are shot but worst of all there is a hole behind the T connection that looks like it goes into the core. Looks like the dash has to come all the way out to get to the core? Just started and looks like a night mare and never did any work on these.

 

[Got_All_4]

Here is my fix. Blasted off the corrosion and soldered up the hole. Factory sure did like those pop rivets! This valve was pop riveted in too and in a very tight place where there was no room for a drill. Used a die grinder with a carbide round tip to grind off the rivet head. 1 minute and it was out. Just glad I didn't have to take the entire dash out.