Topic: Is heater core bad ?
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
Only saw white smoke once and it was on my '68 Impala. That was a teenagers failure to get the electricians tape all the way down the connection. I smoked the dash wiring. Hard to drive with a car full of smoke!

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However....IF the floor is dry, and no steam comes from the vents, you may have an electrical issue that is letting the smoke out of the wires somewhere...heater cores will normally leak all the time...not just when cold. If the core is leaking slightly, it may be that the exhaust is burning off the coolant that drips on it overnight from the core leak, which could explain only seeing the steam/smoke when it's cold/first started.

Either way, it ain't good...you got some work to do!

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
If the hoses are new, you could either pull them off and do as above, or get a union that is 5/8 on one end and 3/4 on the other. That and a couple of clamps and you're good to go.
The location of the hoses on the heater core isn't the easiest to gain access to, especially if you don't have a lift or ramps to get her in the air so you can lay under her just behind the passenger side front wheel. Or you can pull the wheel for easier access.
Good Luck!
How many hoses are going to the heater core? I have 2 that run into the fire wall and i can get to them without raising the car.Am I missing something?

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"