Lets talk heater cores...

[too much stuff]

So I am trying to put my non A/C jimmy back together and can't find a proper fitting heater core. The ones I have ordered locally have a big tank on the top and bottom and the oem brackets don't fit. What are you guys or gals using without having to modify? I am not looking for NOS, just something that fits correctly.
Thanks.

I know you all like pics, so here is where I am at now...

[maverickmk]

Sorry I can't help, but really I'm just here just for the pictures, not the articles

[rockyrivermark]

I had the same problem on my 1970 c10 heater core non ac
The brackets wouldn’t fit on aftermarket heater cores.
Found a bronze copper on eBay that fit right.
Posted via Mobile Device

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

So I am trying to put my non A/C jimmy back together and can't find a proper fitting heater core. The ones I have ordered locally have a big tank on the top and bottom and the oem brackets don't fit. What are you guys or gals using without having to modify? I am not looking for NOS, just something that fits correctly.
Thanks.

I know you all like pics, so here is where I am at now...

What! All of the STUFF you have and you don't have a good heater core?... j/k.... Luckily I have never had to buy one. If it will fit in the space, couldn't you make some brackets to fit it. Heat and flatten the ends on some #9 wire large enough to drill small holes in it for the screws.

LockDoc

[Fbks_Cruiser]

I am using an aluminum heater core from O’Rielly. It fit (kinda) but I don’t really like it. I got it about 3 years ago. If I recall correctly it was correct size length and width but a little thin. The wire brackets fit, but if I tightened the screws completely they would have penetrated the tanks on the core. I wound up using slightly shorter screws. I saved the old core because I think it could be fixed. (small leak where the upper pipe attaches to the tank.) If this aluminum one craps out I will try to fix the original.

[jarrodblake]

I Bought one from auto zone the stock brackets did not work so I used stainless steel zip ties to hold it in place.

[toolboxchev]

There are some OEM fit brass and copper I believe on Jegs, or Summit.

There are also some on the board someone has referenced at about 100 bucks a pop, brass and copper. Commen sense says to stay away from the aluminum ones they have never fit right from all the research here.

[my04]

Just did this for my non A/C '72.
This worked with no modifications.
Advance Auto for $50 or $37.50 with 25% discount.
Keystone Collision Hvar Heater Core Part # HTR010211

[garyd1961]

Originally Posted by rockyrivermark

I had the same problem on my 1970 c10 heater core non ac
The brackets wouldn’t fit on aftermarket heater cores.
Found a bronze copper on eBay that fit right.
Posted via Mobile Device

I did the same.

[too much stuff]

I appreciate all of the input. So it sounds like the aluminum tanked cores are not correct and I should find a copper one.

Leon, with the oversize aluminum tanks, they would be against the side of the box and right there if you were to put a screw in it.

[too much stuff]

Originally Posted by my04

Just did this for my non A/C '72.
This worked with no modifications.
Advance Auto for $50 or $37.50 with 25% discount.
Keystone Collision Hvar Heater Core Part # HTR010211

I went to the site and looked it up and that comes up as aluminum also. No good pics to show the size of the tanks. Any chance you had a pic of yours? The nearest store to me is 1.5 hours away...

[RodnRudy]

I got my copper brass heater core from NPD. It fit like the original. Here is a link to the site and page.
https://www.npdlink.com/product/core.../194464/100664

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

What! All of the STUFF you have and you don't have a good heater core?... j/k.... Luckily I have never had to buy one. If it will fit in the space, couldn't you make some brackets to fit it. Heat and flatten the ends on some #9 wire large enough to drill small holes in it for the screws.

LockDoc

I posted the same gripe on here months ago!
You may be on to something here. Given how hard it is becoming to find these correct-fitting ones, maybe someone on here will start producing and selling these modified brackets!

[allchevy58]

Did you look it up on RockAuto's site. Some of the parts have measurements.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

I appreciate all of the input. So it sounds like the aluminum tanked cores are not correct and I should find a copper one.

Leon, with the oversize aluminum tanks, they would be against the side of the box and right there if you were to put a screw in it.

I wondered about that. I know there isn't much room with the stock ones.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by HIGHWAY BY THE SEA

I posted the same gripe on here months ago!
You may be on to something here. Given how hard it is becoming to find these correct-fitting ones, maybe someone on here will start producing and selling these modified brackets!

I was just wondering if a guy could wrap a piece of firm foam around the top and bottom tank and make it a friction fit. The foam would have to be wider on the back side so it would press against the outside of the heater box. If the hoses were long enough and a person used the factory hose bracket on the inner panel there shouldn't be any movement.

LockDoc

[wpavlis]

I second NPD. I got a brass one from there that fit like my original minus the leaks.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by RodnRudy

I got my copper brass heater core from NPD. It fit like the original. Here is a link to the site and page.
https://www.npdlink.com/product/core.../194464/100664

Thanks for the link. I never thought to check NPD when I was looking for a heater core. I would assume NPD sells quality parts considering they just got into the 67-72 Chevy truck parts market last year.

[Richard]

I have taken my original to a radiator shop in the past to repair/recore. I found that the A/C heater replacement core I got in the past was not correct. Will do the same when I get to that point on my renovation.

[Ultrasummer]

I had read posts on this same subject before buying. I went with Brothers. When I pulled it out of the box I saw that it was the all aluminum type and thought ....Oh sh!#. But.....it slid right into place. Worked like a charm. No additional hardware needed.

[my04]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

I went to the site and looked it up and that comes up as aluminum also. No good pics to show the size of the tanks. Any chance you had a pic of yours? The nearest store to me is 1.5 hours away...

It is aluminum, but it does fit with no issues just like post #20, by Ultrasummer stated with his purchase from Brothers being the aluminum type also.
Advance Auto will ship it to your door for free with the order over $25.
Just talked to a local radiator shop, they quoted between $100-$200 to recore the original brass/copper heater core(which I still have).

[Ironangel]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

I was just wondering if a guy could wrap a piece of firm foam around the top and bottom tank and make it a friction fit. The foam would have to be wider on the back side so it would press against the outside of the heater box. If the hoses were long enough and a person used the factory hose bracket on the inner panel there shouldn't be any movement.

LockDoc

This with a couple of strategically placed dabs of silicon and your golden... PS. I liked the stainless steel zip tie idea too...

[too much stuff]

Well, I am going to roll the dice... I brought it into a reputable shop to see what it would cost to re-core it. He took it in back and pressure tested it with 20psi and said there is nothing wrong with it. Said it flows well also. Wish me luck...

[Jason Banks]

A couple years ago I was able to find a NOS AC Delco. I bet if i had the old one tested I would have been told the same thing. But, I replaced it anyway.

[too much stuff]

Originally Posted by Jason Banks

A couple years ago I was able to find a NOS AC Delco. I bet if i had the old one tested I would have been told the same thing. But, I replaced it anyway.

I hear ya. There is an NOS one on ebay for $300 or something like that. Not doing a restore, just making a driver. As I say, I will roll the dice on this one.

Making some progress...