Surfer69

I replaced my heater core maybe 9 or 10 years ago and now it went out again leaking all over the passenger floor.

Don't understand why these parts don't last. Must be China crap.

news2me

China crap, yes it is... The core went in my 77', we looked everywhere to find a USA core. The one's made today are China and Mexico. They don't fit in the heater box right and the tubes don't line up with the holes in the firewall. So I had to settle for the one that Zip sells. Its a big job to change. Its funny we are talking about this, my car is ready I have to go and pick it up. The core is in and ready to go....

SwampeastMike

The generally excellent material quality of the original parts in my '79 continues to surprise me. While I know that C3 build quality was often considered awful at least it was made with good parts.

The often abysmal quality of replacement parts continues to vex me. I've quickly learned to do everything possible to save the originals!

Mr D.

I had a 75 back in the late 80's and when it rained the Pass floor board would have standing water. Made a lot of trips to the quarter vac.

Big2Bird

GM parts are worth the extra $$$

7T1vette

"Today's" GM parts are no better than most aftermarket stuff. GM doesn't make ANY parts anymore...they buy them from foreign sources and put them in 'Made in America' boxes. (That's the BOX was made in America...not the part!)

Short of a complete crate motor, I would never buy another GM branded part, unless I HAD to. {And I worked for them for 40 years...}

Rescue Rogers

most GM parts are mexican or chinese, same with Ford. If you have radiator shop in town they may recore it for your

Surfer69

Think I will just bypass heater core and splice hoses together since cold season is almost gone.

Maybe look for a used original?

Big2Bird

I guess I should have qualified that with NOS GM.
I agree that the new stuff is not up to par, but still better than most. Parts for these cars are a crap shoot at best. Like Lars says, 50 50 hobby.

Big2Bird

Good radiator guys are getting hard to find as well. Any more on new cars, a new one from Autozone is cheaper than repair. It's driving the shops out of business.

BKbroiler

There is no need to splice the hoses. Remove the hose connections at the water pump and manifold and insert pipe plugs.

dochorsepower

Yes, bypass it. You don't need a heater in a Vette in SoCal. I've run with out one for at least 25 years.

theandies

Isn't you interior hot enough without it?

I bypassed mine after it ruined my brand new carpet set.

Gates makes an adaptor to change hose sizes. BTW my car is my daily driver and I work nights I just put my hardtop on and have a pair of gloves in the back for those cold mornings.

theandies

Can't, on a '69 the large heater hose comes from the expansion tank to the core. At least it's that way on my '71

BKbroiler

​​​​​​​You're right. My bad.

Rescue Rogers

put in 3 gate valves, one each on both sides of the heater core and 2 T's prior to those, the third goes in between the 2 Ts. shut the 2 off at the heater and open the one between the Ts and you have circulating water and no heater core flow, reverse all three and you have heat again. I'm going to do this this summer when I replace the bad blower