CRG Discussion Forum
Camaro Research Group Discussion => Restoration => Topic started by: DAVEN1256 on April 10, 2015, 01:59:20 AM
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I am trying hard to find a replacement heater core for my '68 327 non-AC car and becoming frustrated!
Looking for a replacement that is good quality, the same size as the original, has the tubes bent correctly for my car. This seems to be hard to find.
I would have liked to have my original recored if it was less expensive. I went to the only three shops in the Orlando, Fl area that advertised radiator repair. One could not do it. One recommended I don't because it would cost over $300. The third would do it but quoted me between $200 and $250..... I found a place out of state you could send it to but they quoted me $190......I can't put that kind of money into a heater core right now.
I bought a Spectra Premium part number 94536 from Autozone. I had seen where someone on this site had used that particular one and was happy with it.....It is all aluminum and light as a feather however it is a half inch shorter than the original leaving large gaps at the top and bottom where the heater core sits in the heater box......Also, the original clip that holds the core in place by the tubes will not work with it. I would have to fabricate something which I could do but would rather not.
Just about every other core I have looked at from numerous websites state their thickness as 2 1/2 inches or don't give any dimensions. My original Harrison core is only 2 inches thick. The original clips are made for a core that is 2 inches thick and will not work with one 2 1/2 inches thick. A 2 1/2 inch core will fit in the pocket but would be almost flush with the outside edge of the box. And then there would be no way to fasten it unless you rigged something. Also with a lot of these, if the picture they are using is correct, the tubes are clearly in the wrong place.
I also looked at the Vista Pro Ready Aire part number 398228 which says it is 2 inches thick but it got four bad reviews (two reviews each on two different sites) saying that the dimesnsions were different from what was advertised.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.....Dave
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/05cab67b-7c1f-49d0-a311-b39a9d8c2ae9_zpsj8oxp3mz.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/05cab67b-7c1f-49d0-a311-b39a9d8c2ae9_zpsj8oxp3mz.jpg.html)
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Heartbeat City...
http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/store/product/15041/Camaro-Heater-core-all-SB-no-AC-1967-1968-1969/
Paul
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Before buying, I'd suggest reading this thread over at Team Camaro regarding what HBC sent one owner for his '68:
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=311537
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Before buying, I'd suggest reading this thread over at Team Camaro regarding what HBC sent one owner for his '68:
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=311537
Sorry, typo in the above. Paul's thread was about a 67, not a 68.
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Did you go to NAPA, how does their's compare.
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lets face it, these have become dinosaurs! not many 40+yr old cars are still rolling around. I went through similar getting a freaking water pump for my Z, no one in Dallas stocks reman w/p - hard to believe. The new one would "fit" but the pump body was moved back and hits the factory metal gas line - DOH!
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Heartbeat City...
http://www.heartbeatcitycamaro.com/store/product/15041/Camaro-Heater-core-all-SB-no-AC-1967-1968-1969/
Paul
That is what we used in our 68 but had it brazed around the two stems for strength and tested at our local radiator shop. I test them all before they go in! :)
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Napa's website says their core is 2 1/2 inches thick. I am still looking for 2 inches thick.
I am hoping someone can comment on the 2 1/2 inch cores I see listed so often. Is any one using them? In my heater box with the 2 1/2 inch pocket that the core sits in, a 2 1/2 core would be close to, or touching the firewall....and my original hold down clips would not work. What do you hold down a 2 1/2 inch core with.
Chick, how was the tube postioning on the core you got from Heartbeat City? Others have said the tubes were positioned wrong and had to be fixed.
Also, while we are on this subject. Does anyone know where you can get a heater core tube to firewall seal like the original shown in the pics below. The seal that came with the OER heater box seal kit isn't anywhere close to the original. Rick's use to show them but with a note saying that they were discontinued.
Thanks.....Dave
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4641_zps3saeqvo6.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4641_zps3saeqvo6.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4653_zpsydf9nulb.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4653_zpsydf9nulb.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4654_zpsxcplsf0r.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4654_zpsxcplsf0r.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4656_zpswqnjc1wm.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4656_zpswqnjc1wm.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4657_zpsfx8v2gj5.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4657_zpsfx8v2gj5.jpg.html)
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I've reused ones which looked that bad before cleaning, if it's not falling apart you can soak it in scalding hot water mixed strong with oxyclean, then you may have to use a tooth brush and rubbing alcohol to get the rest of the crap off it.
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For the record I still have not found a suitable solution for this so I am watching this thread (and the one on the other site) with interest. Maybe I will get kucky and find a good original one, if not perhaps an after market one with "close enough" measurements will have to do.
The car is still a project and the one in my other 67 seems ok so I am not in a huge rush but it would be nice to tick this off my list that's penned on an old hood !
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Paul, is your original core 2" or 2.5" thick?
Your to-do list written on an old hood sounds very much like Roadkill ;D
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The old core is 6 5/16 wide and 2 1/2 deep.
The end cap is badly cracked where the top pipe goes in and my radiator guys tell me its not fixable. Shame because the core is great !
I might try to get a used Harrison one with a busted core but good ends and sweat them off, then present the whole lot as a kit of parts to the radiator guys and say "here, sort that"
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Dave,
Try Rick's HC 20, they explain why you cant find what you are looking for.
Bob
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Napa's website says their core is 2 1/2 inches thick. I am still looking for 2 inches thick.
I am hoping someone can comment on the 2 1/2 inch cores I see listed so often. Is any one using them? In my heater box with the 2 1/2 inch pocket that the core sits in, a 2 1/2 core would be close to, or touching the firewall....and my original hold down clips would not work. What do you hold down a 2 1/2 inch core with.
Chick, how was the tube postioning on the core you got from Heartbeat City? Others have said the tubes were positioned wrong and had to be fixed.
Also, while we are on this subject. Does anyone know where you can get a heater core tube to firewall seal like the original shown in the pics below. The seal that came with the OER heater box seal kit isn't anywhere close to the original. Rick's use to show them but with a note saying that they were discontinued.
Thanks.....Dave
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4641_zps3saeqvo6.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4641_zps3saeqvo6.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4653_zpsydf9nulb.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4653_zpsydf9nulb.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4654_zpsxcplsf0r.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4654_zpsxcplsf0r.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4656_zpswqnjc1wm.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4656_zpswqnjc1wm.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_4657_zpsfx8v2gj5.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_4657_zpsfx8v2gj5.jpg.html)
Dave, sorry I missed your much earlier note! Yes, I had an issue with the tube and thought it happened when they re-brazed the tube so took it back to the radiator shop and they re-brazed/located the tube. Everything was good after that! Just to know, I was able to re-use our seal as it was in excellent shape.....
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I may have found an original one for you. It looks to be 2 inches thick. It's at my friends tow yard, and came out of a 6 cylinder Firebird. Should be the same?? It was in the trunk still mounted in the plastic case. I will get some pictures tomorrow and post them.. Danny.
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I wanted to report on the decision I made regarding the heater core.
First off, Danny thank for the tip on the used heater core but I wouldn't feel confident putting a used unit it even if it passed the leak test. You could put it in your car and it could spring it's first leak 10 miles down the road. I wouldn't put a used one in with out re-coring it which I could do with my original if it didn't cost so much. I appreciate you checking into that though.
I had to get away from this problem for a little while. Something that should be so simple was making me nuts. Simple meaning being able to ordering a heater core for your particular car and recieving one that is identical in dimensions to your original with the tubes bent correctly right out of the box.
After comments here and at TC, and dimensions given in the parts catalogs, I could not seem to find a heater core that at least one of the three dimesions was different than my original or that the tubes might have to be repositioned.
So I decided to take a chance with the Vista Pro (Ready Aire) part number 398228. I just ordered it from Summit. It was the only one whose three dimensions were identical to my original.....So we'll see what happens.
By the way, I went to a third radiator shop about re-coring and got the same story that buying a minimun block of core material might put the price over $300........I also had them pressure test my original again. The other shop that tested it would not allow me in the test area. This time, I stood right there and watched and saw the bubbles coming up out of the center of the core area. Defintely bad!
I'll use the advice posted here and see if I can clean up my old heater core to firewall sea. If that doesn't work, I'll try to make one.
Dave
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Ok, I get it. I think I am going to keep it and see about having it rebuilt, as mine is leaking and is and always has been bypassed since I have owned the car. D
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I recieved the Vista-Pro heater core yesterday......Another disappointment !!!
First off, in their description photo, Summit shows a brass and copper core. I recieved an aluminum core.
Summit's description says the core is 6 3/8 inches tall. It is actually only 6 inches tall........That's not that big of a deal except the opening in the heater box that the core sits in is 6 inches tall so there is no surface for the top and bottom of the core to sit on and seal to.
Summit's description says the core is 2 inches wide. The plates welded to the top and bottom of the core are indeed 2 inches wide but the core material itself is only an inch wide. I don't know if that is good or bad.
The inlet and outlet pipes can be rotated. There is a sticker on the core saying to rotate the pipes into position. This must be what I have seen in ads called "variable pipe positioning." The pipes in their "out of the box" position will not go through the holes in the firewall. Again, I don't know wether rotatable pipes are good or bad. I see it as being two potential spots for a leak.
And lastly, the pipe side hold down clip will not work. The base of these rotatable pipes is larger than a standard pipe and interfere with the clip.
Now I guess I'll have to plan C, D, or wherever I am at right now. I've lost track.
Dave
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_6817_zpsvf0u4haq.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_6817_zpsvf0u4haq.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_6821_zpsg9hlih9k.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_6821_zpsg9hlih9k.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_6822_zpsvhf19pwp.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_6822_zpsvhf19pwp.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_6823_zpseif46xwl.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_6823_zpseif46xwl.jpg.html)
(http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/t386/daven1256/IMG_6827_zpsvhfcfuav.jpg) (http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/daven1256/media/IMG_6827_zpsvhfcfuav.jpg.html)
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It looks to me like you can bend the metal plates to make it the proper 6 3/8". They almost look like they were designed for that. Restoring old cars is never simple anymore so you might have to figure out how to make it work. I don't mind the rotate feature on the tubes. Probably O-ringed. Now just figure out how to make the clip work.
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Dave,
A couple strips of closed cell rubber will work on the sides. A little work on the corners of the bracket. A good grade of anti freeze formulated for aluminum and your ready to go.
Might take a little longer to warm up the inside on a really cold day but I do not have that problem in Florida.
I really like that core, I bet it is light. I wonder if they have an aluminum core like that for 67 with AC?
Bob
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Aluminum heater cores are thinner for the same reason aluminum radiators are thinner...efficiency. Have a local radiator shop deal with this situation and burp to have your Harrison repaired, or do as Charley says and make the appropriate modifications and modify no matter what one you buy. This was a cake walk when we had a radiator shop attached to the body shop.
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Cool, I want to replace my heater core while the car is apart, following along.
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Dave has found his correct core and Classic Industries has tweaked their parts finder for 68's to include the correct core. :) http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=334889&page=2
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I got one at NAPA last week, took my old heater core to compare to theirs, is was identical dimensions, it fit perfect, used my original clips it and they fit perfect, all Alum., I cannot find anyone that makes anything except Alum.
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I got one at NAPA last week, took my old heater core to compare to theirs, is was identical dimensions, it fit perfect, used my original clips it and they fit perfect, all Alum., I cannot find anyone that makes anything except Alum.
What did it run ya?
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$30. for the heater core.
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Nice. Ill have to grab one for my car. Thanks!
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GM part number 3016842 now superceded to 19132000 locator shows Kroll Chevrolet 671-646-1886
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GM part number 3016842 now superceded to 19132000 locator shows Kroll Chevrolet 671-646-1886
Thanks Cory! Any available in the mainland?
Paul
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No, Sorry. They show 31 on hand.