While refitting my EM'* this past week, I noticed a small crack in the housing for the evap and heater core mounted on the firewall. Pulling the rear EM out actually poked another small hole in the housing. Started poking around and the plastic just started to crumble away (now an even bigger hole). I suspect that this is derived from a massive exhaust leak that I had a while back (broken EGR tube) which took awhile to fix. I found other evidence of the heat, melted wire loom and the TPS sensor housing looked like it had a huge drip hanging from it (melted).

So now that I realize the housing has to be replaced (duct tape won;t hold forever), how big of a job is this? Does it come out in one piece, - evap heater core and all? Does a new housing come with the cores? or is it a modular assembly (sorry, never had one apart). I looked it up on GM Parts Direct and if I had ther right part number, they showed a cost of about $123 which made me pretty happy. Given that the AC system will have to be evacuated and recharged, how much of a pain in the a@# am I looking at?

I'm in the same boat my accident pushed the engine back into the box smashing it up pretty bad and i have no clue how to change it. However in your case I think its just the insulation that covers the metel blower box wich is part number 52472695

oh yea the part number i think you looked up would be 52456176 the is the metel blower box under the insulation

Now it is starting to make sense. And I like $55.00 a whole lot better. I wonder if the barrier can be replaced without removing the entire housing??

If you're a contortionist, you may be able to get away without pulling the engine. I had one out, Once. Never again, I will sell the car first.

Gee Dame, I'm feeling real good now about the order I just placed for that part.

Hey man, You should try it, Seriously. Then we can both know what it'* like.

Can the outer cover be replaced without removing the whole damn thing?

Just that foam on the outside? I think you may be able to, If you cut it a little.

The plastic cover, engine side.