The clips just hold the housing halves together and the core stays connected to the heater hoses.
That job is a lot easier if you just take the heater out.
You might find like I did that you might want to redo some of the foam on the doors inside there while it's opened up.
4 bolts under the hood around the blower motor, the J hook inside the right vent door, a wire or two and the control cables along with the defroster hoses and it's out.
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View attachment 1715164596
