Dreaded wet passenger floor...Again?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 19
From: Manhattan Beach Ca
Dreaded wet passenger floor...Again?
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.
Don't understand why these parts don't last. Must be China crap.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 322
Likes: 11
From: Staten Island New York
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....
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
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!
The often abysmal quality of replacement parts continues to vex me. I've quickly learned to do everything possible to save the originals!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
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!
The often abysmal quality of replacement parts continues to vex me. I've quickly learned to do everything possible to save the originals!
GM parts are worth the extra $$$
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
"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...
}
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...
}
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,221
Likes: 9,357
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
most GM parts are mexican or chinese, same with Ford. If you have radiator shop in town they may recore it for your
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
"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...}
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...
}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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
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From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Laguna Niguel California
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
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.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,221
Likes: 9,357
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
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