B3 - Heater Hose Interference With Right Side Splash Panel

[bkahler]

I've been fighting for the last hour to get the right side splash panel installed.  The issue I'm having is the heater hose up close where it connects to the heater outlet is forcing the panel to the outside which means I can't get the panel to slip over the top of the shock tower.  Anyone else with a heater have issues with the heater hose causing a problem?

 

At the moment the only solution I see is to disconnect the heater hose and that kinda sucks.

 

Thanks,

 

Brad

[Los_Control]

Without seeing what you are seeing ... I said early on to put them in as early as possible. They are a tight fit.

 

With my paint job, just fight and slam them in. You can see where I scraped off the new paint on the firewall. In this corner.

There is more damaged paint in other areas from installing them .... they will get touch up when finished.

 

Not only would I remove the hose on yours, probably the heater also ... the metal lines from the heater stick out a few inches and my heater bolts are really long and would possibly interfere. ... with your nice paint ... I would remove the heater to get the best chance I could to avoid scratches.

 

[Panhead]

I had the same problem. Took the hose off and loosened the heater. 

[bkahler]

13 hours ago, Los_Control said:

Without seeing what you are seeing ... I said early on to put them in as early as possible. They are a tight fit.

 

With my paint job, just fight and slam them in. You can see where I scraped off the new paint on the firewall. In this corner.

There is more damaged paint in other areas from installing them .... they will get touch up when finished.

 

Not only would I remove the hose on yours, probably the heater also ... the metal lines from the heater stick out a few inches and my heater bolts are really long and would possibly interfere. ... with your nice paint ... I would remove the heater to get the best chance I could to avoid scratches.

 

 

11 hours ago, Panhead said:

I had the same problem. Took the hose off and loosened the heater. 

 

 

Dang, I figured pulling the hose was what would need to be done, I didn't even think about the heater core tube sticking out there as well 🫢

 

I'd have to say Dodge really didn't think through the location of the heater hose interference issue with a routine maintenance activity. 

 

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[JBNeal]

40 minutes ago, bkahler said:

...

I'd have to say Dodge really didn't think through the location of the heater hose interference issue with a routine maintenance activity...

Maybe Dodge realized that it was a problem in preproduction so it was mandated that the heater option was dealer installed...I've worked with at least one OEM that knew when to kick the can down the road...if'n ya had the fresh air package installed, you'd definitely be taking things apart to adjust them valves

[Los_Control]

I want to say In my defense, I always claimed I was repairing my truck not restoring it .... simply making it safe and fun to drive.

That included replacing the missing paint.

 

So when faced with pulling the heater or putting a scratch on the paint ??? It will get a lot more scratches on it down at the hardware store or in parking lots.

Once you get the first scratches out of the way, the rest are easier  

[bkahler]

9 hours ago, JBNeal said:

Maybe Dodge realized that it was a problem in preproduction so it was mandated that the heater option was dealer installed...I've worked with at least one OEM that knew when to kick the can down the road...if'n ya had the fresh air package installed, you'd definitely be taking things apart to adjust them valves

 

Nothing would surprise me on stuff like this

 

Yep, I do have hte fresh air package as well.  I think I've made the executive decision to NOT remove the splash panels unless absolutely necessary, and then I'll think about it some more!

 

[bkahler]

Removing the heater hose and backing off all four mounting bolts to push the heater in made the difference.  Only one bolt left install in the lower front and I just have to figure out how to move it a little while trying to get the bolt in place.  It wasn't a walk in the park but it wasn't too bad.  I think a contributing factor is the panel is probably somewhat tweaked out of shape.  The body guy had to straighten it some so I'm guessing more than just the heater hose

 

I've tried twice to get the left side panel installed with no luck.  I can't find anyway to lower it in from the top without it binding in the gap between the front fender and the radiator support frame.  Is it possible to install the panel by removing the wheel and slipping it in from underneath?

 

[Los_Control]

1 minute ago, bkahler said:

Is it possible to install the panel by removing the wheel and slipping it in from underneath?

No I tried and could not.

I seen some or most cars you remove the wheel and then there is a panel to remove to gain access to adjust valves etc ....

I just thought that was the way they were installed.   Back to research and found out they slide in from the top on trucks.

 

I tried for a few days and could not get them in from the side.

 

 

[bkahler]

13 hours ago, Los_Control said:

No I tried and could not.

I seen some or most cars you remove the wheel and then there is a panel to remove to gain access to adjust valves etc ....

I just thought that was the way they were installed.   Back to research and found out they slide in from the top on trucks.

 

I tried for a few days and could not get them in from the side.

 

 

 

Dang.  That would have made life so much easier.  Maybe it's time for me to get the 2 lb hammer out of the tool box....

[Los_Control]

Been awhile, seems it was the shocks/shock mounts .... could not get past them. Or it might have worked.

[bkahler]

I finally managed to get the drivers side panel installed.  I had to remove the hook closest to the cab, there was no way it would slide down because the hook was hitting the top of the cab.  I also ended up with a really large scratch on the corner of the cab I could see no way of getting the panel down into the opening without applying a LOT of pressure, the scratch was the result.  It's rather frustrating to spend so much time, effort and money on something only to have to scratch it to install a panel. 

 

Oh well, on to the next task which will be assembly the three hood sections and installing them.  Thanks for all the advice and  help.

 

[Dave72dt]

A couple extra pairs of hands for hood assembly and installation would be a good idea.

[Los_Control]

I was not really pleased with the process of installing them either.

While I finish things up, I plan to prepare wiring and such, to lift the doghouse off with inner/outer fenders intact.

I know they are designed to do that already .... I just want to make sure I keep it that way when adding things to the engine compartment.

Just not sure what plug I will use for headlights.

[JBNeal]

2 hours ago, bkahler said:

...

as The Black Knight infamously said,

TIS BUT A SCRATCH...that'll buff out 😁

[bkahler]

5 hours ago, Dave72dt said:

A couple extra pairs of hands for hood assembly and installation would be a good idea.

 

I've got a spare bedroom....

 

[MBF]

On my B2JA I removed the nose for the engine o/h and painted everything underneath.  When trying to remove the right inner splash panel I couldn't get it to come out through the top with the nose still in place.  I had all the bolts out but also couldn't sneak it past the heater lines.  I walked away and it fell out through the bottom!  So that was my lesson learned-installation and removal through the bottom eliminated the problem for me.   Not sure if this works on the smaller trucks.

[bkahler]

On 12/11/2024 at 7:02 AM, MBF said:

On my B2JA I removed the nose for the engine o/h and painted everything underneath.  When trying to remove the right inner splash panel I couldn't get it to come out through the top with the nose still in place.  I had all the bolts out but also couldn't sneak it past the heater lines.  I walked away and it fell out through the bottom!  So that was my lesson learned-installation and removal through the bottom eliminated the problem for me.   Not sure if this works on the smaller trucks.

 

Thanks for the info.  If I ever need to remove the drivers side panel I will definitely try removing through the wheel well first.  It was a little disheartening to scratch the paint on the cab and the paint on the outside of the panel where it rubbed against the entire fender flange.

[ggdad1951]

19 hours ago, bkahler said:

 

Thanks for the info.  If I ever need to remove the drivers side panel I will definitely try removing through the wheel well first.  It was a little disheartening to scratch the paint on the cab and the paint on the outside of the panel where it rubbed against the entire fender flange.

 

As much as that sucks (scratching the paint) it was bound to happen.   At least you got it over with and it's not the side of the door!    Touch it up and we won't tell anyone!

[bkahler]

9 hours ago, ggdad1951 said:

 

As much as that sucks (scratching the paint) it was bound to happen.   At least you got it over with and it's not the side of the door!    Touch it up and we won't tell anyone!

 

I'll let you in on a little secret....it's happened more than once 😄