you dont need it,but it is nice to defrost your windows.even in the summer time ,when it fogs up during a rain storm or at night when the temp drops.I had a 84 camaro that i bypassed and drove for two years with a towel on the pass side seat to wipe the windsheild off every ten minutes. IT SUCKED... 🙁 . I dont know on a non ac setup but on my 86 ss with ac it only took maybe a hour to change,probably could have done it faster if i did not stop to drink a beer 😀 .1986monte said:i bypassed the heater core for now, that was the problem, and yes its a daily driver, do you really need it?