Al Davis

Hello, I have a 79 a/c car with 50k miles. The engine is out, should I replace the heater core or how long will they last? Thanks, Al

rugerm44

If its original put in a new one.Cheap insurance.

69Vett

cheap Insurance for what ? .... thin metal, poor fit,
build as cheap as you can/solder as fast as you can ?

I disagree, clean repair solder rebuild the orginal. the leaks are almost all ways,
at the hose connection from the hoses getting yanked around.

IF you currently have no problem, clean inside and out,
then reflow the solder joints and reinforced the hose connection area,with more solder,
pressure test to 20 psi. your ready to go.

Marlin

Replace or rebuilding is still the same end result; A updated heater core.

With that I agree. If the old one looks ok and you don't see any hint of major damage then either solder it back to "new" or replace if your skills don't allow.
Of course most Rad shops can re-solder it and pressure test it as well. So maybe a better bet there.

rponfick

If you can get at it from the engine side (especially if the engine is out), go for it. Not sure on AC cars how to get at core. I just did it on my '69, big block, non-AC car and I don't want to do it again any time soon. Had to go from passenger inside on mine and once is enough. I sure screwed up when I didn't replace it a few years ago when I was doing a frame-off restoration on it.

Ralph.

Jud Chapin

In case you don't know, the fact that the engine is out has little bearing on the significant labor involved in replacing the heater core as it is done from inside the car.

Bowerss2

i hear it is a MASSIVE PITA.

Jud Chapin

For sure.

Avette4me

True. Here's a write up I did a few years ago... Not that great, but you'll get the idea.

TWINRAY

FWIW, this is how I dealt with the heater core issue
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...e-69-w-ac.html

TWINRAY

In my '69 SB w/AC, you have to take the heater box (which contains the heater core) out from inside the car. It necessates the removal of the PS dash panel.