Glove compartment brace and heater blower box removal tips

[Greg23]

[i've added some pictures]

 

 

It wouldn't let me post in the "How To's" so here it is:

 

It’s not often a have a chance to contribute something that might help someone else. I just completed the Heater Box Rebuild with the help of this excellent post - http://www.starquest...howtopic=131748

 

This is for an ’87 Conquest, left hand drive. Don’t know if the solutions are universal.

 

GLOVE COMPARTMENT BRACE

 

The standard procedure for removing the brace below the glove compartment seems to be to bend the right end return to get it off the two small studs that locate it. It is not necessary to bend it if you don’t want to.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/GloveCompartmentDoor3.jpg

 

Glove compartment door and brace.

 

Remove the phillips head trim screw at the bottom of the dashboard leg below the right side heater-A/C vent

 

With the passenger door open find the smooth color coordinated plastic panel on the side of the dashboard facing the door. It is held by two plastic hinge hooks on the upper firewall side and lower firewall side. The passenger side is held in place by two spring clip pins. Reach up behind the right side dashboard leg and there is an access hole you can get your fingers in to push out the passenger seat side of the plastic panel. Once the pins are free rotate the plastic panel, like opening the passenger door, and pull it toward where you would be standing if you were getting ready to get in the passenger side of the car. Pictures below.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/SidePanel3.jpg

 

Plastic panel.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/SidePanelAccess3.jpg

 

Access hole to push panel out. Can also pry out panel with a small screwdriver from the outside.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/SidePanelOpen.jpg

 

Access panel open.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/SidePanelBolts3.jpg

 

Look in the resulting open area and remove the 2 - 10mm hex head bolts.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/DownlegOffset3.jpg

 

Take the bottom of the right hand dashboard leg and CAREFULLY pull it toward the passenger seat far enough so that it can be pushed to the right (toward the passenger door) and let it rest against the front door jamb – looking straight at it, about 1/3 will be outside the car and 2/3 will be inside.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/PushFrame3.jpg

 

From the inside, push the plate that contains the 2 small screw studs to the right and you can get the right side of the dashboard brace free from the studs.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/BraceElectricModule3.jpg

 

To keep from mashing up the end of the air duct that the duct behind the brace fits into, remove the 2 black electrical components mounted to the left side of the brace. One has a medium size blue connector and the other a small white connector. It can be done now or before reinstalling the brace. To remove them before removing the brace –

 

There is a hole in the firewall side of the brace. Inside this hole is a phillips head screw that screws into the bracket that holds the 2 electrical components. Mine was so tight I couldn’t unscrew it until after I had the brace off and had to mangle the end of the air duct. If possible, undo the screw until the bracket is free. It requires SEVERAL turns. When the bracket is free, grab the thread end of the screw so that it can’t fall into the blind track of the brace. I don’t know if it can but it looked like there was a possibility. I wadded up a small piece of painter’s masking tape and shoved it in the hole against the screw head so it couldn’t drop out.

 

HEATER BOX – FIREWALL BRACE NUT & REMOVAL WITHOUT REMOVING THE EVAPORATOR BOX

 

Even if you didn’t care about bending the end of the dashboard brace that step needs to be done to be able to get the heater box out.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/BlowerBolts3.jpg

 

Remove the 12 mm phillips/hex head bolt at 12 o’clock. Remove the 12 mm hex head bolt at 3 o’clock. Unbend the flexible clamp holding the side vent duct hose and wiring. Remove the air duct hose – it’s a press snap fit at each end.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/RearBoltLocation3.jpg

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/RearBolt3.jpg

 

Remove the screw that holds the 2 ends of the band clamp around the blower box/evaporator box together. Try to rotate the clamp a small amount by pulling down on the firewall side end and pushing up on the passenger seat end. The band clamp has a hinge on the top firewall side corner of the ducts that interferes with reaching the nut you want access to. Try to get that hinge a little lower and more toward the firewall.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/RemovalWrench3.jpg

 

Using a small flashlight look above the actuator (round can) and under the edge of the dashboard. Way in the back is a one piece nut and washer attached to a bolt that comes through the firewall. It takes 2 extensions and a 12 mm socket to get to it. By the time all that is hooked together it’s like trying guide the end of a 16” piece of hose but it can be done! Use a 1/8” extension and socket – I couldn’t get it done with 1/4". Then hook either a 1/8” or 1/4" extension to that. You SHOULD be able to guide it onto the nut. When I got the nut loose it just fell down to the floor, so I don’t THINK you have to worry about losing it. It may take SEVERAL attempts to mate the socket with the nut but keep trying.

 

Once the nut is off and the bracket is free from the stud you will have to take the chance of sacrificing the band clamp around the duct. I was able to reuse mine – you’re result might be different. Rotate the blower box clockwise as far as it’s willing to go. This is where previously dealing with the glove compartment brace gives you a little more room to maneuver. If the right side dash leg has slipped back inside the car return it to the 1/3 – 2/3 position. Take a fairly substantial pair of pliers and grab the end of the band clamp closest to you. Twist it clockwise (when looking up from the floor) so that you can get the edge to fit between the actuator and the evaporator box and up over the top of the actuator. The blower box should move around a fair amount but there is a return leg pointing toward the passenger seat at the bottom of the back brace, below where the nut was and that hinge is not going to let it past. Look between the two duct pieces and find the small metal tab on the inside of the firewall side of the band clamp. It’s bent over toward the blower duct. Straighten it out so it doesn’t cause a problem. There is another one, either on the passenger seat end or the top (I forget) but it will be taken care of soon enough. Take your substantial pliers and grab the lower end of the band clamp. Take the top end of the band clamp and try to guide it between the firewall and the firewall side of the ducts while pulling (pretty hard) on the pliers end. The band clamp will come out and will look a little mangled. Worst case is, you can use some thin insulation and quality furnace tape instead of the band clamp when reinstalling. I reused the band clamp, straightening it as much as possible after getting it back into position and while there is a little air leakage it’s leaking into the passenger compartment, so nothing is really lost.

 

Now that the band clamp is gone there is enough room to remove the blower box. Rotate it clockwise as much as possible. You will have to jiggle it and twist it around but when it’s in the correct position it will just drop free.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/RearBolt3.jpg

 

Before re-installation cut off the return leg on the bottom of the back brace. I also radiused out the top part of the brace above the hole so there wasn’t so much material in the way of the nut/washer/socket.

 

Re-assembly is pretty much the opposite of disassembly except you are unlikely to be able to re-bend the duct clamps on the inside of the band clamp. They can be cut off, pressed flat or left as is. I left mine sticking out and they either stayed in the space between the duct ends or smashed down against the ducts.

 

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/bassnightwithOttO/InstallationFingers3.jpg

 

Getting the 12mm nut/washer back on is about as bad as it was removing it. I tried several times and just could not get it started with the 1/8” socket, 1/8” extension and 1/4" extension. BTW tape the nut to the socket or use a socket magnet so you don’t drop the nut every 2 seconds. I finally had to use one of those long finger grabbers to get the nut started. I pushed the plunger to extend the fingers then let them grab the nut. I then wrapped painter’s tape around the fingers and the edge of the attached nut washer. With the grabber I got the nut started on the first or second try. I screwed it about half way on and pulled the fingers loose. I then used the fingers to grab the tape and pull it off the nut and washer. The best way seemed to be to use a clockwise twisting motion (so as not to accidentally unscrew the nut) and peel the tape off, rather than pulling it off. Finish tightening with the socket and extensions.

 

I know this is a slog to get through but it might help somebody.

Edited September 11, 2013 by Greg23

[kev]

Cool, thanks for posting this!

 

I'll add a link to the how to thread.

 

kev

[Shelby]

been posted for many years but thanks for a fresh look

[Greg23]

All of the posts I could find said you had to remove the evaporator box to be able to remove the blower box (or break off the rear mounting brace). Edited August 8, 2013 by Greg23

[Shelby]

the heater and A/C system is modular meaning each componet can be removed seperately

and cuting off that hiden mount leg has been posted many times but theres 0ver a 100k posts to scearch thru and some FAQ's got lost durring the softwate change over

theres plenty of blower suport with out that hiden leg

 

we have no problem with you makeing a new thread how to , but pics would sure have helped

[Technology]

I never had to bend any metal when I did mine. To make re-installation easier, I only trimmed a little part of the plastic circle on the mounting tab to make it slide down over the stud on the firewall.

[kidjc]

Still, thanks for taking the time, making the effort to post this info. I'm sure it will be of help to someone, & or many!

[Shelby]

yes thank you for posting esp the pics,,

oh that real hard to get all nut,, leave it off,, won't hurt a thing

 

heres an old write up by Mike C

 

Posted 13 July 2008 - 01:17 AM

 

Three fasteners that I remember... As you face the recirculate air intake/grill they are:

1: down and to the right (5 o'clock) from the grill, bolts to side of car.

2: 12 o'clock high. Right above the grill.

3: the SOB bolt: it's behind the black plastic box with the a/c evaporator core. You can't reach this without removing the a/c stuff first. You might be able to see it with a mirror... see the vacuum actuator (for fresh/recirculate air control) and the "duct" going to the evaporator box... look under the actuator and over the duct and you might see it.

 

Basic removal steps for the evap box:

1: drain a/c system of refrigerant.

2: remove turbo heat shields and the firewall mounted bracket that supports them for arm/wrench clearance. You might have to remove the downpipe/pre-cat too.

3: Just above the frame rail you'll see the a/c refrigerant hoses. Undo both of them. Have a rag ready to catch all the a/c compressor oil that'll continually dribble out.

4: unplug the vac hose next to those a/c hoses - it plugs into a copper pipe coming through the firewall grommet.

5: See the small nut on a stud poking through the firewall a couple inches above the a/c refrigerant hoses? Undo that nut.

6: Inside the car: remove the glove box door, the air duct attached to the bottom of the glove box support bar (one screw, then pull it towards outside of car if I remember correctly), then remove the metal bar itself. You'll find itty-bitty nuts on the outside end, and a couple screws in a triangular welded-on piece on the end next to the stereo. You'll have to bend the outside "ears" to clear the studs as you twist this thing free.

7: undo the big duct clamps on either side of the evaporator box.

8: unplug the various electrical connectors along the bottom of the box. Label them though. Some connectors can be mixed up.

9: Unplug the vac hoses that you can see.

10: Up in the insulation at the top are two beefy bolts holding the evap assembly to the dash. Undo those. The whole thing should wiggle free now. There will be more vac hoses & wires clipped to various things on the box so don't yank it out just yet... move it around and disconnect the last few things.

 

I don't know if you can undo the 2 big bolts & that engine-bay firewall mounted nut, plus the duct hose clamps, enough to wiggle the evaporator box out of the way of that SOB heater bolt. Worth a try though. The a/c refrigerant hoses are clamped to the frame rail in the engine bay; remove that clamp to get a little more wiggle room.

 

mike c.