heater core

[1tonchevy]

Hi guys just got my truck back on the road tueday an the heater core gave birth all over my passeger foot well.

so none the less question is whats a new one cost? I want to buy a brand new one from the store.

Thanks Dru

[85burb]

First i would like to congratulate you. second about 25 bucks from autozone.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...mString=search

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by 85burb

First i would like to congratulate you. second about 25 bucks from autozone.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...mString=search

thanks for the quick answer but thats in the states and i'm in canada (i forgot to post that) but i'm hopping its close to the same price... thats alot better price then i have been hearing so far....

[85burb]

Auto zone will ship. Maybe they will ship to your house ...A...

[irishman999]

I put a heatercore in mine last winter, I got it from Autozone. This winter it exploded during a blizzard I was driving through on a long trip home. I sat on the side of the highway letting it cool off enough to bypass and ended up burning the **** out of my hands. Considering the time it takes to R&R one of these and that you might end up driving for 9 hours freezing your ass off I would buy the most quality expensive unit available.

[raceman6135]

$52 from Canadian Tire.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by raceman6135

$52 from Canadian Tire.

is that a copper or alluminum one?

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by irishman999

I put a heatercore in mine last winter, I got it from Autozone. This winter it exploded during a blizzard I was driving through on a long trip home. I sat on the side of the highway letting it cool off enough to bypass and ended up burning the **** out of my hands. Considering the time it takes to R&R one of these and that you might end up driving for 9 hours freezing your ass off I would buy the most quality expensive unit available.

how much of a pita is it?

[old Rusty C10]

it depends to do one on a non ac truck is real easy on one with air condition its harder but not that bad.. these newfangled trucks that have no room and a zillion wires and vacuum lines is a PITA

[1tonchevy]

ok so this is turning into quite the head scratcher.

last night went to get coffee in truck could smell and see anti freeze in the truck and the window fogged up.... drove truck home parked stewed about it.

today call around order a heater core...... warm up the truck to go get heater core (only vehicle i have)wipe coolant off floor so i can see if more dripps. otw to get heater core cant smell anti freeze or see it but window gets a little foggy i have the heat on the floor.

get part drive home put heat to defrost and window starts to clear but still no anti freeze. park in driveway let idle its been at operating temp for quite awhile now and still no antifreeze on the floor or smell.

lol someone please give me some insight

[Oilbrnr]

Other than you have a leaking core and it needs to be replaced?

Does your truck have AC?

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by Oilbrnr

Other than you have a leaking core and it needs to be replaced?

Does your truck have AC?

nope no ac lol mines a base modle work truck.

[Oilbrnr]

Yeah, I just went through your build thread and noticed that.

Compared to what you've done so far, that core will be nothin' to RnR!!!

I know you're in Canada, but I've been happy with the cores I've gotten in the past from NAPA. Decent copper units, and fit like they should. The one in my '66 with factory air was a PITA, but the '80 stripper work truck with no A/C (bad choice here in Phoenix) was real easy.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by Oilbrnr

Yeah, I just went through your build thread and noticed that.

Compared to what you've done so far, that core will be nothin' to RnR!!!

I know you're in Canada, but I've been happy with the cores I've gotten in the past from NAPA. Decent copper units, and fit like they should. The one in my '66 with factory air was a PITA, but the '80 stripper work truck with no A/C (bad choice here in Phoenix) was real easy.

i'm going to takle it today at some point i'm just waiting till it's not -9 out side anymore lol. yeah i was reading up on it and it seems easy enough

[Tucson38]

I picked one up from NAPA but it was aluminum so I found one at O'Reillys (formerly checkers) for $28, copper. It took me about 6 hours to swap out - first time project for me. My '85 GMC has A/C so it was a little more complex but still doable. I wound up taking the entire heater core box apart, cleaned all the dust etc. Wasn't too bad a job, should be easier with your non-A/C vehicle.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by Tucson38

I picked one up from NAPA but it was aluminum so I found one at O'Reillys (formerly checkers) for $28, copper. It took me about 6 hours to swap out - first time project for me. My '85 GMC has A/C so it was a little more complex but still doable. I wound up taking the entire heater core box apart, cleaned all the dust etc. Wasn't too bad a job, should be easier with your non-A/C vehicle.

i just did mine in 30 min and didnt unhook a single cable..... and thats topping up my trucks anti freeze and letting it warm to operating temp :S

[raceman6135]

Originally Posted by 1tonchevy

is that a copper or alluminum one?

It's Canadian-made Spectra Premium, which I believe is aluminum.

I never buy anything at NAPA unless I can get it on a wholesale account because their retail prices here are typically 1.5 to 2 times as much as any other auto parts store.

Have you been keeping an eye on the level of antifreeze in the system? It sounds like your heater core may have a leak near the top of the core, and if the level of antifreeze is below full, you could have air in the system which is making it seem as though the leak has magically fixed itself.

As others have said, if it started leaking, it will continue to until the core is fixed or replaced.

[DetroitDan]

dont make the mistake I did, just changed the one in my 91 Blazer, while trying to figure out how it came apart I managed to break a little tab holding the door that directs the air. So now my defroster and floor heat dont do what you want, mostly the heat just blows at my face. Also that door or something else in there spins at random and makes the most bizarre squeaking squealing sound. I'm glad so many of you find this to be an easy job. I've done it twice and it was a PITA both times, on AC trucks. Blazer took me probably at least two hours, the first time it took me even longer, out in the below zero freaking cold.
Looking forward to tearing it all apart again, to fix it. I've got a parts truck, 88 Blazer that I'm hoping I can take the whole airbox out of.