heater core question.

[kevmar96]

Im needing a heater core (non ac) for my 72. Looking on-line I found them at o'reilly for $26. Looked at brothers and they have them on sale for like $65. Is there that much difference in the two or is this a get what you pay for kinda thing? Anybody have any experience with the ones from o'reilly? Anyone recommend any other place to get one?

[C. M. Wolf]

Well, you do get what you pay for,(most times), but different companies also sell the exact same heater core for different prices. ('Lifetime Guarantees' are also nice, but can become mute if it takes all day just to get to the cheaper and more often replaced parts.)

When I did my 70 & 72 C-20s, I simply had them made by a local radiator shop that was highly trusted and simply did a great job using the best materials for a very fair price.
IMHO, sometimes getting a deal on certain parts isn't worth having to do the installation more than once every 10 or 20 years. To replace the heater core, the inner fender needs to be dropped so the heater cover can be removed properly. (...to me, that's a lot of work on a part that's mounted w/ a couple bolts and couple hose clamps).



Michael

[cigar-]

From my experience in replacing a heater core is the new ones are aluminum. The brass ones (if you want one) need to be made up special. Brass works in California will but I'm not sure of the cost.

The aluminum ones I'm told do not hold up as well as brass.

[rocks409]

To replace heater core, inner fenderwell has to be dropped, so I assume the right side hood hinge needs to removed also ???

[GMB1985]

I removed mine I only took the hood and passenger side hinge off I used a 1/4 inch socket set with a extension and got the two bolts that are hard to get the rest come out easy

[slow-1]

I found that the aluminum ones don't fit properly...look for a brass one or have your old one repaired.

Here is a thread I did when I replaced mine.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=600448

[litew8]

Looking around it doesn't seem like the reproduce the brass/copper? The one at Oriely's, is it this one? Why does the description say brass/copper yet the picture shown looks like aluminum?


Murray® Heat Transfer - Heater Core
Part # 399067

[Steeveedee]

I looked to O'Reilly's for a heater core ('69 Skylark) and it didn't fit, too short. Autozone offered the right size, but it was aluminum instead of brass like O'Reillys. With an aluminum heater core, you will need to be sure that you have all the grounds connected properly, and maintain the coolant. Any lack of ground, or electrolysis due to lack of ground will lead to heater core failure.

[kevmar96]

Yes litew8 that is the one I was looking at. I will check with my local radiator shop and see about a repair.

[solarnick]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pl...del/c10-pickup

Summit Racing. I bought one. Great quality. Great fitment. $36

[cigar-]

I bought the aluminum one for my truck also. It fit perfectly. The cost (more so the time factor) for a new brass one made me use the aluminum one. I got it from O'Reilly.

[rocks409]

Think I'll piggy back on this thread. I live in a rual area and will be going to town tomorrow to pick up a new heater core. I want to replace the air duct hoses. Well, really , I don't want to , I have to, there destroyed by age. I have looked in the assembly manual and find instructions but no specs. Can someone tell me what diameter of duct hose to buy, and total feet I will need. '70 C 20 without air. Thanks in advance.

[cwilkie]

I bought one from oreillys and it has been install for two years with now problems in North Dakota winters.

[cigar-]

Rocks,

Not sure of the diameter. I bought all new for my 71 C10....heat only....no A/C....from LMC Truck. If you don't know about them yet, they are a good source for lots of parts. Also you can try Brothers Truck Parts in Corona California or Truck Parts of Orange, also in Orange, California.

I can tell you this.....

Those duct hoses fit tightly and will test your patience. The ones from LMC are the right length and fit with a little muscle.

[flashed]

Thanks for the Summit Link ,it is ordered .

[GMB1985]

That one from summit looks pretty good

[rocks409]

Thanks, cigar-

[909]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

I looked to O'Reilly's for a heater core ('69 Skylark) and it didn't fit, too short. Autozone offered the right size, but it was aluminum instead of brass like O'Reillys. With an aluminum heater core, you will need to be sure that you have all the grounds connected properly, and maintain the coolant. Any lack of ground, or electrolysis due to lack of ground will lead to heater core failure.

Where are they supposed to be grounded? It's been a couple years but I don't remember putting a ground in.

[slow-1]

When you get that core from Summit, let us all know if it is actually the one pictured.

What I ran into was all the parts stores had a picture of the brass one in their computer but when it arrived, it was aluminum.

[flashed]

Mine will probably be on my front porch tomorrow ,it shipped from the Ga store .

[flashed]

My heater core from summit actually arrived today but it was not a brass and copper one as pictured by summits ad .It actually looks like the one pictured above made of aluminum.

[litew8]

bummer, bait and switch

[litew8]

Originally Posted by 909

Where are they supposed to be grounded? It's been a couple years but I don't remember putting a ground in.

Found a pic of mine. See the top black wire for ground.
That's the only ground wire. Not sure what he meant by grounding the aluminum core itself?
This ground is for the blower motor.




From the looks of it and what I remember, the core does not come into contact with metal on the backside:

[slow-1]

Originally Posted by flashed

My heater core from summit actually arrived today but it was not a brass and copper one as pictured by summits ad .It actually looks like the one pictured above made of aluminum.

Thats what I was afraid of...I think the Chineese changed to aluminum without telling the vendors...they are using the same part number.

Now, does your aluminum core have the small tanks on each end like the original?

If so, I think it will work fine...the ones I was getting had tanks that were the same size as the core and didn't fit the original brackets.

[slow-1]

Originally Posted by 909

Where are they supposed to be grounded? It's been a couple years but I don't remember putting a ground in.

I would think that a small wire from the nut holding the bracket for the core to the firewall would do it.

I dont know enough about metalurgy to know if it is nessesary but it couldn't hurt I guess.

Is it common for folks to ground aluminum radiators when they use them?