Installing blend door actuator

[bubbs609]

How hard is it to install one of these things? There is a big cold front about to hit Dallas next week and would love for the car to be running by then AND actually have heat too!

 

[SHOdded]

There is a writeup by Bizzy on the procedure, and a PDF of instructions also somewhere onsite. Plan a full day, as you have to pull out the dash to get to it. Easier/less time with 2 people.

You COULD take a shortcut through the left side of the glovebox if you are willing to cut plastic/metal pieces in your way, or so I have heard ...

 

[sperold]

I would love to learn more about the shortcut. If someone has done this, I would like to hear more about it.
I have heard that loosening everything up (Dash & plenum box) could be enough to pull out the old one and install the new one, but I never learned enough to consider trying it.

 

[Devin]

Here is what it looks like, if that helps:

http://www.shoforum.com/showpost.php?p=1102809&postcount=3

The blend door is 7.
You'd have to able to lift the blend door up about an inch or so to remove it. I'm not sure how to modify the box or the dash to get it out without pulling the dash first.

 

[eacyde]

I am in the process of replacing the blend door actuator and heater core. There is no way there is enough room for this "Shortcut" method to remove the BDA. You will just have to gear up and pull the dash.

I spent a good 4 hours removing the dash a few weekends ago. That 4 hours also includes gutting the complete interior as I am also swapping my mocha interior for Black.

There are some progress pics here starting at post 133

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=124762&page=5

PM me if you have any questions

 

[SHOtime2511]

To change the actuator you really don't need to remove the dash,just make enough room to snake your arm in and do the work. Get a little creative.