[Cherokee dad]

Ok 98 Cherokee 4.0. 148k miles. Radiator replaced 4 years ago. A C compressor replaced last year.
Last fall, the evaporator core in the dash failed. Took it to the shop, they want $3k and say it will take 3-4 days.
I'm more than capable with tools and have a lot of them, since I restore vintage motorcycle for fun.

How long will it really take to pull the dash, replace the evaporator and heater core and reinstall everything? I've watched some You Tube videos and it's hard to judge the time frame. Who's actually done this?

I'll be replacing the heater control valve and the hoses as well, since it takes 20 minutes to get any heat in the cabin.

I've searched this forum without a good result

 

[warriorsuspension]

Good question. A friend of mine in TX together with a friend of his did it and and installed in a day. Same reason as you. I removed a HVAC box in a wrecking yard in a couple of hours, but the windshield was out which it much easier

 

[Ralph77]

Most guys seem to say it takes about 10 hours.
Guys who have done a few say they can do it in 5.
People say not hard but tedious.
And you don't have to actually remove the dash. Plenty of write ups on this.
Some day I figure I might go into mine cause I think my evap core has a slow leak.
My thinking is pull the heater box from a boneyard Jeep.
Make sure it still has the original heater core.
Logic being that it lets me practice on the boneyard Jeep.
May not figure out how to do it right but betting I learn a couple things not to do.
LOL.
Also the reasoning behind this is I would bring the heater core to a radiator shop and have them refresh it.
Also figure I could build the boneyard box and when the time comes it would just be a matter of swapping it in.

 

[NickT02LS]

If you take your time and do not get aggravated not bad, what I did for my 99 XJ and other vehicles I have done if you can is take it apart and install new core in box first day, then second day install. I did heater core at same time while it was apart.