Latest update on my matrix replacement.
Eventually removed the dashboard and ventilation ducting.
What a right Royal PITA that was and to be fair I gave myself more hassle because of limited access in my garage. It's easier if you can have both doors wide open, for freedom of movement, in and around the car.
Although there are several how-to guides around, none of them are clear on the method of removing the dash and ducting. They show lots of screws being undone and then hey-presto it's all out.
I initially thought the dash and ducting assembly would come out as one piece, silly me but then realised I needed to separate them first. I decide to leave the steering wheel on and although it might give a little more access, for a couple of screws, it doesn't have to come off.
I ended up taking the handbrake off it's mounting, which gave more clearance for manoeuvring the dash and removed the right hand end of the dash for extra clearance. The large bracket, top centre, of the dash fits under and behind the ducting making it difficult to pull out.
Ok, enough whingeing, on to the heater core.