Re: 70 hornet heater core replacement -- NOT FUN.

[farna@xxxxxxx]

I agree -- early to mid 60s is the "dream period" as far as relative moderninity (is that a word?) and still ease of maintenance. Plastic started around 67-68 for AMC, 1970 it was in full swing. 

I'm sure the glovebox floor molded in was for speed and ease of assembly. Disassembly is something the dealer could charge for IF the car failed in the first 2-3 years (warranties were more like 24 months in 1970, and that was considered long!), and for the second owner over the next 2-3. Who cares after that? That's lost money as far as the manufacturer/dealer was concerned! In the early sixties people were still concerned with longevity, by the mid to late sixties consumerism was taking a bigger hold on high priced items like cars. 

I see your point about the floor strengthening the assembly too. I have the dash out of my old 63. It's steel so holds up, but will twist and flex out of the car a good bit. Plastic would need more support, and the easiest way is to add useable substance to it. Makes for quicker/easier assembly too. But a removable cardboard or plastic insert would have made the heater core easier to get to. 


On November 21, 2005 Tom Jennings wrote:

> The bottom of the glovebox is part of the dash ass'y for ALL hornets
> and gremlins (maybe concords and eagles?). The 73 heaterbox is
> completely different than 70, but as Doc points out, same problem.
> 
> The car is small, is the issue; the under-dash volume is less than my
> 63, with more stuff in it.
> 
> I'm sure the glovebox bottom could have been done otherwise, but when
> you have the big molded assembly out (I have one hanging on the wall)
> it forms a stiffening box section, as does the gauge cluster surround
> on the left. Any change would have cost money and time.
> 
> On Nov 21, 2005, at 4:55 AM, farna@xxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> > Hmmm.... maybe that's WHY the 73 is a totally different heater box
> > design?
> > So the glove box is molded into the dashboard, not removeable?
> > That's a poor design for later maintenance for sure! Ugggh... it's
> > that way in the 73 also (http://www.tocmp.com/manuals/AMC/1973/
> > Service/Chapter18/browser.htm , page 18-2). But, the 73 TSM says to
> > do exactly what you did (http://www.tocmp.com/manuals/AMC/1973/
> > Service/Chapter12Ahtml/browser.htm , page 12A-5) -- "Pull the right
> > side of the instrument panel slightly rearward and remove the
> > heater housing." that's the last step! Makes me gald to have a
> > removeable glove box in the 63. I've been thinking a nice little
> > Hornet two door sedan or Sportabout would be a good one to have
> > too. Guess I'll check the heater core before getting to far if I
> > get one (and remember!). Are the later models (specifically Spirit)
> > the same way, or do they have a removeable glove box?


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