Heater core replacement

You can't as you have to pull the heater box out of the truck to disassemble it. I'm including a tip so you don't run into other trouble.

Yes you'll have to recharge youra/c. If you planon doing this yourself youmight go to a shop who can evacuate the system and ask if theywil recharge it after you are finished. That is to keep the cost down on new freon as they will store yours.

That is for your panel/defrost selection i'm sending a chart along. If the actuator is marked red goes to the "f" terminal. It may be hard to see on the thumbnail. Make sure you are plugged in an dgetting vacuum to the control switch your main line may be off

WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING

REMOVAL:
Disconnect the negative battery cable. Drain the coolant.
Remove the steering column cover, intermittent wiper control, if equipped and the lower instrument panel module retaining screw to the right of the steering column.
Remove the center distribution duct retaining screws and panel support screw at the bottom of the module.
Remove the courtesy lamp at the lower right corner of the module and the screw near the ash receiver.
Open the glovebox and remove the screws along the top edge.
Move the module out and down far enough to unclip the wiring harness and antenna cable and disconnect the speaker wire (if equipped with monaural radio) and glovebox light wire. Remove the module from the vehicle.
Remove the center air distribution duct.
Remove the antenna wire from retaining clip at the right end of the heater unit.
Disconnect the blower motor connector and remove the thermal insulator retainer from the heater unit.
Disconnect the demister hoses from the adaptor at the top of the heater unit.
Disconnect the vacuum feed line from the check valve.
Disconnect the temperature control cable flag retainer from the heater unit.
Remove the adjusting clip from the blend air door crank.
Disconnect the heater hoses from the core tubes and plug them.
Remove the four heater unit attaching nuts from the rear engine compartment dash panel.
Remove the heater unit support attaching screw and rotate the brace out of the way.
Remove the heater unit from the vehicle.
To disassemble the housing assembly, vacuum diaphragm and retaining screws from the cover and remove the cover.
Remove the retaining screw from the heater core and remove the core from the housing assembly.

INSTALLATION:
Remove the temperature control door from the unit and clean the unit out with solvent. Lubricate the lower pivot rod and its well and install. Wrap the heater core with foam tape and place it in position. Secure it with its screw.
Assemble the unit, making sure all vacuum tubing is properly routed.
Install the assembly to the vehicle and connect the vacuum harness. Install the nuts to the firewall. Install the support brace to the heater unit.
Connect the demister hoses to the adaptor at the top of the heater unit.
Connect the blower motor connector and install the thermal insulator retainer to the heater unit.
Connect the vacuum feed line to the check valve.
Connect the temperature control cable flag retainer to the heater unit and install the adjusting clip from the blend air door crank.
Install the center air distribution duct.
Install the antenna wire from retaining clip at the right end of the heater unit.
Install the instrument panel module and all related parts.
Connect the heater hoses to the core tubes.
Fill the cooling system.
Connect the negative battery cable and check the heater for proper operation and leakage.

WITH AIR CONDITIONING

REMOVAL:
Disconnect the negative battery cable. Properly discharge the air conditioning system. Drain the coolant.
Remove the steering column cover, intermittent wiper control and the lower instrument panel module retaining screw to the right of the steering column.
Remove the center distribution duct retaining screws and panel support screw at the bottom of the module.
Remove the courtesy lamp at the lower right corner of the module and the screw near the ash receiver.
Open the glovebox and remove the screws along the top edge.
Move the module out and down far enough to unclip the wiring harness and antenna cable and disconnect the speaker wire (if equipped with monaural radio) and glovebox light wire. Remove the module from the vehicle.
Remove the center air distribution duct.
Remove the antenna wire from retaining clip at the right end of the heater unit.
Disconnect the blower motor connector and remove the thermal insulator retainer from the heater unit.
Disconnect the demister hoses from the adaptor at the top of the heater unit.
Disconnect the vacuum harness connector from the air conditioning control hose and vacuum feed line from the check valve.
Disconnect the temperature control cable flag retainer from the heater unit and remove the adjusting clip from the blend air door crank.
Disconnect the heater hoses from the core tubes and plug them.
Remove the condensation drain tube.
Remove the 4 heater/air conditioning unit attaching nuts from the rear engine compartment dash panel.
Remove the heater/air conditioning unit support attaching screw and rotate the brace out of the way.
Remove the heater/air conditioning unit from the vehicle.
To disassemble the housing assembly, vacuum diaphragm and retaining screws from the cover and remove the cover.
Remove the retaining screw from the heater core and remove the core from the housing assembly.

INSTALLATION:
Remove the temperature control door from the unit and clean the unit out with solvent. Lubricate the lower pivot rod and its well and install. Wrap the heater core with foam tape and place it in position. Secure it with its screw.
Assemble the unit, making sure all vacuum tubing is properly routed.
Install the assembly to the vehicle and connect the vacuum harness. Install the nuts to the firewall and install the condensation tube. Install the support brace to the heater/air conditioning unit.
Connect the demister hoses to the adaptor at the top of the heater unit.
Connect the blower motor connector and install the thermal insulator retainer to the heater unit.
Connect the vacuum harness connector to the air conditioning control hose and vacuum feed line to the check valve.
Connect the temperature control cable flag retainer to the heater unit and install the adjusting clip from the blend air door crank.
Install the center air distribution duct.
Install the antenna wire from retaining clip at the right end of the heater unit.
Install the instrument panel module and all related parts.
Connect the heater hoses to the core tubes.
Using new gaskets, install the H-valve and connect the hose connection at the valve.
Evacuate and recharge the air conditioning system.
Fill the cooling system.
Connect the negative battery cable and check the entire climate control system for proper operation and leakage.

Thanks for using 2CarPros. Com!

Oh make sure the rod going in the hvac unit is connected to.

Here are the directions I was able to find for you. Let me know if it helps.

Disconnect the negative battery cable. Properly discharge the air conditioning system. Drain the coolant.
Remove the steering column cover, intermittent wiper control and the lower instrument panel module retaining screw to the right of the steering column.
Remove the center distribution duct retaining screws and panel support screw at the bottom of the module.
Remove the courtesy lamp at the lower right corner of the module and the screw near the ash receiver.
Open the glovebox and remove the screws along the top edge.
Move the module out and down far enough to unclip the wiring harness and antenna cable and disconnect the speaker wire (if equipped with monaural radio) and glovebox light wire. Remove the module from the vehicle.
Remove the center air distribution duct.
Remove the antenna wire from retaining clip at the right end of the heater unit.
Disconnect the blower motor connector and remove the thermal insulator retainer from the heater unit.
Disconnect the demister hoses from the adaptor at the top of the heater unit.
Disconnect the vacuum harness connector from the air conditioning control hose and vacuum feed line from the check valve.
Disconnect the temperature control cable flag retainer from the heater unit and remove the adjusting clip from the blend air door crank.
Disconnect the heater hoses from the core tubes and plug them.
Remove the condensation drain tube.
Remove the 4 heater/air conditioning unit attaching nuts from the rear engine compartment dash panel.
Remove the heater/air conditioning unit support attaching screw and rotate the brace out of the way.
Remove the heater/air conditioning unit from the vehicle.
To disassemble the housing assembly, vacuum diaphragm and retaining screws from the cover and remove the cover.
Remove the retaining screw from the heater core and remove the core from the housing assembly.

EVAPORATOR CORE & HEATER CORE
Removal & Installation (Dakota)
Remove the evaporator/heater assembly. Refer to EVAPORATOR/HEATER ASSEMBLY.
With evaporator/heater assembly removed, remove nut from blend air door shaft. See Fig. 2. Using pliers, press linkage arm off b lend air door shaft. Disconnect vacuum lines from vacuum actuators.
Remove assembly cover screws from defroster outlet and air inlet openings. See Fig. 2. Remove remaining screws from top of unit cover. Remove unit cover.
Remove retaining screws, and remove heater core. Remove evaporator core. To install, reverse removal procedure.
EVAPORATOR/HEATER ASSEMBLY
Removal (Dakota)
Disconnect negative battery cable. Remove lower steering column cover. Remove retaining screws from inside ashtray. Remove ashtray assembly.
Remove intermittent wiper control from bracket. Intermittent wiper control is located at lower edge of radio speaker grille, on driver side. Remove instrument panel module retaining screws near right side of steering column.
Remove center air duct located behind lower instrument panel module. Remove support brace screw from instrument panel module. Remove courtesy light at right corner of instrument panel module.
Remove instrument panel module retaining screws above glove box and ashtray areas. Pull instrument panel module rearward and lower it. Secure wiring harness aside.
Disconnect antenna cable from retaining clip on right end of evaporator/heater assembly. Disconnect electrical connector from blower motor. Disconnect defroster hoses at adapter on top of evaporator/heater assembly.
Remove terminal insulator retainer from assembly support brace. Disconnect necessary vacuum hoses. Disconnect Black attaching flag of temperature cable on top of A/C-heater housing, behind defroster tube adapter. See Fig. 3.
Slip cable self-adjusting clip upward from blend air door crank. Insert a 3/16" (4 mm) diameter rod in crankpin access hole, and rotate self-adjusting clip from cable. See Fig. 3.
Discharge A/C system using approved refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment. Disconnect refrigerant lines. Plug refrigerant line openings. Drain cooling system. Disconnect heater hoses, and plug heater core tubes.
Disconnect condensation drain tube from fitting on firewall. Remove evaporator/heater assembly-to-firewall retaining nuts. Remove evaporator/heater assembly support brace attaching screw. Swing support brace to left, out of way.
Pull evaporator/heater assembly rearward until attaching studs clear instrument panel and allow assembly to drop down. Rotate evaporator/heater assembly until attaching studs are facing downward. Remove assembly from vehicle.

The 2carpros manuals are very easily followed and the job will require the a/c to be evacuated, recycled, and recharged.
It is about a 6 hour job start to finish with air, and power tools.

First, replacing the heater core is a huge job on this vehicle, expecially if the vehicle has AC. His bid or 350 for parts and labor is a good deal. But I know the feeling. If you don't have it, the price may as well be 100,000. Are you sure the heater core is bad? If so, how have you checked?

As far as the heater you purchased, don't splice into anything. Most every electrical component runs through some type of a computer. If you start playing around with it, you'll cause other problems.

If you know how to power if from the battery, that will work. However, make sure to run an inline fuse to the heater so it blows the fuse if there is a short and doesn't start a fire.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe