Heater box and core question?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
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Heater box and core question?
I had a thread the other day about windshield installation and now that has escaladed into removing the dash and since I went that far I decided to remove the heater box for a rebuild. I've done some research and found you can get a new gasket kit but not the door seal and one of the seals is falling apart. Can these be purchased?
Second, since I have the heater core out should I replace it or have the one I have hot tanked?? I think it's original. It reads "Harrison" on the bottom and has #s on the front.[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1346_zpsf17eb571.jpg.html]
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Second, since I have the heater core out should I replace it or have the one I have hot tanked?? I think it's original. It reads "Harrison" on the bottom and has #s on the front.[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1346_zpsf17eb571.jpg.html]
[/URL
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
If you are keeping the car "original".....have the heater core rebuilt....if not--buy a replacement.
You may have to make a flexible door seal yourself (be careful when removing the original seal so you can use it as a template if you can't order a new seal).
You may have to make a flexible door seal yourself (be careful when removing the original seal so you can use it as a template if you can't order a new seal).
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Melting Slicks
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From: St. Louis Mo
I had a thread the other day about windshield installation and now that has escaladed into removing the dash and since I went that far I decided to remove the heater box for a rebuild. I've done some research and found you can get a new gasket kit but not the door seal and one of the seals is falling apart. Can these be purchased?
Second, since I have the heater core out should I replace it or have the one I have hot tanked?? I think it's original. It reads "Harrison" on the bottom and has #s on the front.[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1346_zpsf17eb571.jpg.html][/URL
Second, since I have the heater core out should I replace it or have the one I have hot tanked?? I think it's original. It reads "Harrison" on the bottom and has #s on the front.[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1346_zpsf17eb571.jpg.html]
[/URL
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
new heater cores are made much cheaper, and thinner, than the original units.
and sometimes do not fit as they should. I prefer to use the original if in good condition.
I pressure test all heater cores to 25psi. no leaks good to go.
and sometimes do not fit as they should. I prefer to use the original if in good condition.
I pressure test all heater cores to 25psi. no leaks good to go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If it can be reused, you'll be ahead of the game......you don't want to do this job twice.
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Melting Slicks
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Race Director
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From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Just replaced mine in my 75.
Had the local radiator repair place check it out before installation and pressure test it in the cradle before installing it
A new unit will be either a Mexican or a Chinese unit, as per his info the Mexican unit will be the better choice, heaver base weight of the materials as measured on a scale.
I was considering having my 40 year old one repaired, BUT !, my assistant/helper/wife of 200 years said, WE ARE NOT DOING THIS AGAIN, it don't get any simpler than that, go with a new unit.
Just saying
Had the local radiator repair place check it out before installation and pressure test it in the cradle before installing it
A new unit will be either a Mexican or a Chinese unit, as per his info the Mexican unit will be the better choice, heaver base weight of the materials as measured on a scale.
I was considering having my 40 year old one repaired, BUT !, my assistant/helper/wife of 200 years said, WE ARE NOT DOING THIS AGAIN, it don't get any simpler than that, go with a new unit.
Just saying
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
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Well I just found a NOS heater core but it's dated '95 so would that be an American made one or over seas?? It's expensive at $175 but the radiator shop was going to charge $100 to hot tank and pressure check mine. So for $75 more I can have a brand new AC Delco. What do you think?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
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Ok here's my dilemma, I had my original heater core checked and it needs to be re-cored. So for about the price of a NOS one it could be repaired or do I buy the NOS one and be done with it? The original one is made by Harrison.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I guess my question is, where are you able to purchase the NOS unit? I was unaware they existed; and due to fitment issues would always do my best to work with the original unit. What's the warranty on the recore compared to the new unit?
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Melting Slicks
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I didn't ask about the warranty and the NOS unit is dated back to '95.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Flemington New Jersey
I redid mine our of necessity. My car is a 76 survivor with 23 garage kept miles but the heater core went. Most parts on these cars (Bumpers 74-76, interiors) will have been or replaced due to damage or just fading.
Did worry about "original" things were not always made better then. Get the best quality heater core you can, have it tested and install.
I did recore my Radiator though..
Did worry about "original" things were not always made better then. Get the best quality heater core you can, have it tested and install.
I did recore my Radiator though..
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
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Ok I received my new NOS heater core but although very similar there are some differences but very minor. The original one is stamped "Harrison" on the bottom tank, the NOS one is not and maybe it's just that way nowadays but is dated '95. Other than that I fit nicely but had to spread the piped slightly to get the clamp in. Well here are some pictures[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1358_zps4dce3a34.jpg.html]
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1351_zps6b60b236.jpg.html]
The core on the right is the NOS one.[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1352_zps7b0cb505.jpg.html]
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1354_zps6209afeb.jpg.html]
Not sure where this foam goes. It says it's the heater core divider so any idea would be great.
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1355_zps43a7e3d2.jpg.html]
[/URL
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1351_zps6b60b236.jpg.html]The core on the right is the NOS one.[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1352_zps7b0cb505.jpg.html]
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1354_zps6209afeb.jpg.html]Not sure where this foam goes. It says it's the heater core divider so any idea would be great.
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1355_zps43a7e3d2.jpg.html][/URL
Last edited by alconk; Feb 11, 2015 at 03:13 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
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Here are some other pictures of the heater box.[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1357_zpsb5af553c.jpg.html]
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1354_zps6209afeb.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1349_zps8f4ebc94.jpg.html]
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1348_zpsd50b5421.jpg.html]
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1356_zps12615981.jpg.html]
Here is that piece of foam again and it goes somewhere at the end of the heater core. Any ideas??
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1359_zps3eea6a03.jpg.html]
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1353_zps596ec38e.jpg.html]
[/URL
I wanted to show you the color of the coolant because I'm not sure about it. It was changed out in the summer and is the Prestone 50/50 mix. At the very top it has that nice green color but halfway down it gets that tanish look and I don't know why??
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1354_zps6209afeb.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1349_zps8f4ebc94.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1348_zpsd50b5421.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1356_zps12615981.jpg.html]Here is that piece of foam again and it goes somewhere at the end of the heater core. Any ideas??
[/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1359_zps3eea6a03.jpg.html][/URL[URL=http://s929.photobucket.com/user/alconk/media/DSCN1353_zps596ec38e.jpg.html][/URL
I wanted to show you the color of the coolant because I'm not sure about it. It was changed out in the summer and is the Prestone 50/50 mix. At the very top it has that nice green color but halfway down it gets that tanish look and I don't know why??
Last edited by alconk; Feb 11, 2015 at 03:29 AM.