Cadillac Repair: 87 ELDO HEATER CORE R&R, heater hoses, bad vision

Question
HELP! I AHVE ALWAYS BEEN A VERY ADEPT MECHANIC, GREW UP IN THE 60'S AND HAD NO TROUBLE REPAIRING ABSOLUTLY ANTHING TIL '75, IN 80'S AND 90'S, LEARNED FRONT WHEEL DRIVES, C.V.'S, ETC., HAVEN'T ACTUALLY WORKED ON ANYTHING FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS...ENOUGH OF ME, I NEED TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE HEATER CORE IN AN 1987 EL DORADO. SO FAR I HAVE REMOVED BOTTOM PLASTIC PANEL ON PASSENGER SIDE, I AM SOMEWHAT LOST... I KNOW WHERE THE CORE SHOULD BE, (SEE HOSE CONNECTIONS ON ENGINE SIDE IF FIREWALL, BUT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET TO THE HOUSING OR OPEN IT UP TO REPLACE CORE.CAN YOU GIVE ME GUIDENCE? ADVICE? DIRECTIONS? NOT AN IDIOT, JUST GETTING OLDER AND LAYING UNDER DASH ON WET FLOOR MAT WITH BAD VISION DOESN'T HELP!

Answer
Hi CJ,

    I know what you mean. I'm getting to the point of needing bifocals and it makes it tough to do some close-up work.

    Looking at the shop manual there really isn't too much that needs to be done. Since you already have the lower RH under dash panel off remove the glovebox liner. Unbolt the programmer on the RH end of the heat assembly and then there are aprox. 4-5 more 7mm bolt/screws to remove and then the cover can be removed. 2 heater hoses after the cooling system has been drained. The heater core is held in place with 2 straps and out comes the core.

     Might take up to 3 hours. Hope that helps. Bill