Metallic rattle - advice needed

[batman]

As I suspected (and after 9 hours) I found the problem deep in the car - the heater core.

However, its NOT a loose bracket holding the core to the body of the car (which is what I suspected from similar stories here on the forum) but a loose metal plate I found between the blower & the core.

So I need some advice what to do. The core seems fine. Should I have the plate reattached to the core, meaning removing the core etc. etc. or simply leave it off. What purpose did it perform? The heater worked previously OK without it attached?

cheers

[mbzse]

.../... the plate .../... What purpose did it perform?

This is one side on the heater core, and it is spot welded in place. There is a description and some good pictures in our Tech Manual, look under "Heater Core".

Unfortunately, just like the wobbly side windows in the doors, the fact that this plate comes off at one end and rattles is a "typical Pagoda" ailment.

If you remove the core, you can reattach the plate and also re-fit the foam seals in your dash (that have powderized themselves in the past 45 yrs). If you leave the plate off, the air stream will not go entirely the way the M-B engineers designed it, but this is no major issue.
/Hans  in Sweden
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[batman]

Thanks Hans.

Right now I really don't feel like removing the core, (I am exhausted from the dis-assembly and still have the speedo to do!!).

As an alternative I could re-attach the plate to the core with it in place by using a liquid weld epoxy which is extremely strong - but of course then run a risk of it coming loose and I end-up with another massive job.

In Melbourne we don't get really cold days and so a small loss of heat direction without the plate is probably not noticable.

Has any other forum member not reattached the heater core "plate" and noticed any real change?

[Jonny B]

Once you have gotten as far as you have, taking the core out is a piece of cake. The real pain is getting to it. There are two bolts on each side of the core bolting it to the firewall/dash brackets. Be aware that those brackets on the core are also a weak point and can break loose. As long as you are this far, those would be good to take a look at.

BTW - a friend and I did his car (that was a tear down similar to yours) and then did my car. AND no parts left over!