Heater core cover

[mudpie]

I'm 2 hours into trying to get this stupid cover on and all I've managed to do is cut my hand and break the cover. Is there some secret?

 

[454cid]

Be careful???

It's a bit of a pain. I use various 1/4" drive sockets, extensions, etc. I didnt break mine until maybe my 2nd or 3rd heater core change.

There is one screw next to the firewall and I believe a lot of guys just dont put that one back.

 

[mudpie]

That one bolt was a pain to get out, but obviously it's easier when the bolt is sitting in place rather than trying to put it back in. I did leave it out.

My cover was in pieces when I took it out, so I assume somebody had been in there before. I got a replacement from a junkyard.

My issue was with that corner, where the cover broke, and trying to get it to clear the heater core. I got it back in there after pulling the floor pad for just a little more clearance, and a healthy dose of brute force. I hope this heater core live up to it's lifetime warranty because I really don't want to do it again. Simple thing to do, if they'd just designed it with ¼" more clearance.

Thanks for the input. I wasn't sure if I was missing some simple trick