Begginning Fastguy Method - Heater Core
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
I was wondering how the Parts Ladi could sell a genuine GM OEM heater core at that price. So I looked up the ad on E-bay. Well the heater core for $38.95 plus $10.00 shipping is made by Proliance and is not a GM/OEM heater core. They make no claims that it's manufactured in the US.
So I guess both of you could be replacing the heater core in the near future.
Autozone sells a Spectra heater core for $43.00 with a Lifetime warranty. For a warranty claim you can go to any Autozone store. The Parts Ladi has a 2 year warranty thru the manufacturer. So that probably means you have to deal with the manufacturer for any warranty repair/swap and pay for return shipping of the old core.
There was a forum member who purchased an item from the Parts Ladi and it failed. They would not exchange the item under warranty because he didn't keep the original box. That's one of downsides I see with dealing with The Parts Ladi. Who is going to keep the original box for 2 years?
Here's the link for the E-bay heater core listing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/84-85...Q5fAccessories
So I guess both of you could be replacing the heater core in the near future.
Autozone sells a Spectra heater core for $43.00 with a Lifetime warranty. For a warranty claim you can go to any Autozone store. The Parts Ladi has a 2 year warranty thru the manufacturer. So that probably means you have to deal with the manufacturer for any warranty repair/swap and pay for return shipping of the old core.
There was a forum member who purchased an item from the Parts Ladi and it failed. They would not exchange the item under warranty because he didn't keep the original box. That's one of downsides I see with dealing with The Parts Ladi. Who is going to keep the original box for 2 years?
Here's the link for the E-bay heater core listing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/84-85...Q5fAccessories
Last edited by WW7; Nov 2, 2009 at 08:00 AM.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
I have to finish it before I store it, and thats about 2 weeks so I still have some time
...ahh procrastination..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 42
From: Baltimore, MD USA
Wrong, Proliance and Delphi both made heater cores for GM. Thepartsladi sells both..Also if you scroll down a bit it says( Make- GM).If you read the sentence below that under (Our Products) they state, if they are selling reproduction parts they with tell you.There are other dealers selling the Proliance brand for as much as $85.00 Also unfortunately Im old enough to remember Proliance and Delphi parts in GM cars.Also for those that don't know, every year I get a catalog from Thepartsladi, guess who's catalog I receive,,, (Corvette America).WW
What is interesting is if you go to Vista Pro's web site which is the company that purchased Proliance after they went bankrupt the last line states Proliance is an aftermarket manufacturer of automotive parts. They make no mention of Proliance being an OEM supplier for GM.
http://www.pliii.com/system/uploads/739.pdf
If you go to the web-site below and input the GM part number for a
C4 Corvette heater core which is listed in the Parts Ladi ad as
(3052870) the cross reference Proliance # comes back as
Proliance #398202 Competitor GM Competitor #3052870.
http://www.pliii.com/catalog?searche...e_parts=SEARCH
Interesting they use the word Competitor.
Most likely the heater core you purchased was made overseas.
There's an article on the web about Proliance and it stated one of the reasons they went out of business is they took a big financial loss when a tornado destroyed one of their warehouses in TN. Could it be that's where the Parts Ladi got their supply of heater cores?
Last edited by Hooked on Vettes; Nov 2, 2009 at 02:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
If you read the E-bay listing it also says under warranty return, you must return the item in the GM box. I spoke with the Parts Ladi concerning this heater core and it does not come in a GM box. So you can't believe word for word what the ad says. You site the word MAKE GM in the ad. That refers to the heater core as being used on GM vehicles and not that the heater core is a genuine GM part.
What is interesting is if you go to Vista Pro's web site which is the company that purchased Proliance after they went bankrupt the last line states Proliance is an aftermarket manufacturer of automotive parts. They make no mention of Proliance being an OEM supplier for GM.
http://www.pliii.com/system/uploads/739.pdf
If you go to the web-site below and input the GM part number for a
C4 Corvette heater core which is listed in the Parts Ladi ad as
(3052870) the cross reference Proliance # comes back as
Proliance #398202 Competitor GM Competitor #3052870.
http://www.pliii.com/catalog?searche...e_parts=SEARCH
Interesting they use the word Competitor.
Most likely the heater core you purchased was made overseas.
There's an article on the web about Proliance and it stated one of the reasons they went out of business is they took a big financial loss when a tornado destroyed one of their warehouses in TN. Could it be that's where the Parts Ladi got their supply of heater cores?
What is interesting is if you go to Vista Pro's web site which is the company that purchased Proliance after they went bankrupt the last line states Proliance is an aftermarket manufacturer of automotive parts. They make no mention of Proliance being an OEM supplier for GM.
http://www.pliii.com/system/uploads/739.pdf
If you go to the web-site below and input the GM part number for a
C4 Corvette heater core which is listed in the Parts Ladi ad as
(3052870) the cross reference Proliance # comes back as
Proliance #398202 Competitor GM Competitor #3052870.
http://www.pliii.com/catalog?searche...e_parts=SEARCH
Interesting they use the word Competitor.
Most likely the heater core you purchased was made overseas.
There's an article on the web about Proliance and it stated one of the reasons they went out of business is they took a big financial loss when a tornado destroyed one of their warehouses in TN. Could it be that's where the Parts Ladi got their supply of heater cores?
Last edited by WW7; Nov 2, 2009 at 02:55 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 42
From: Baltimore, MD USA
I didn't know they were bought out by Vista Pro in 2008. If you scroll down to the second page of the 739 pdf you will see that it says ( All of there products are made in 2 world class plants in (North America) so at least they are not made overseas..I wonder if Delphi is still made here? I haven't had to replace my heater core yet I still have the original in my 89.WW
http://www.pliii.com/2-about-vista-pro?top
So who knows what to believe?
Good luck on your install.
Only time will tell if you purchased a quality product.
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Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
on the subject of heater cores, about a month ago, i went to my local chevy dealer to get a ac delco/GM heater core for my sons 85. looking up a heater core part number for an 84-96 corvette, it came up as "DISCONTINUED". the only alternative is aftermarket, so i went to NAPA for the replacement - guess what, made in china. i'd be willing to bet that autozone, advanced auto parts, pep boys, etc., are all made in china. as far as partsladi, i've got corvette parts from them that were made in china - most of which i sent back. i think the only thing i ever kept was a console cover for my 90 - it was actually fairly decent. once i bought (via ebay - buy it now) a pair of turn signal assemblies for a 63-67 corvette from partsladi, nowhere in the ad did it state country of origin, so i emailed them on the subject - they came back with "made in the USA". so, i bought them, and when they came they were in a plain white box (did not have a warm fuzzy feeling, at that point). opening the box, there was a small tag on the wiring harness - "made in china" - they were junk, and i sent them back. on a positive note for partsladi, i have never had an issue with returning parts and getting a full refund - . pressure testing the core before final assembly - another
"If God made everything, He must live in China!" sort of
, but 
. pressure testing the core before final assembly - another "If God made everything, He must live in China!" sort of
, but
Last edited by Joe C; Jan 7, 2010 at 06:28 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Most AC Delco parts are made offshore now weather we like it or not including balancers, relays, you name it. Not just in China, but other places too.
I've replaced at least 4 heater cores in different vehicles last year alone. I used new units from the parts stores without any problem.
I've replaced at least 4 heater cores in different vehicles last year alone. I used new units from the parts stores without any problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Anyone know where to get the inner clip for the 84-89 blend door motor? Which is the white clip that is by the motor that the rod screws into?
I've already got a bunch of the clips for the clip that goes on the rod end by the blend door inside the heater box.
I've already got a bunch of the clips for the clip that goes on the rod end by the blend door inside the heater box.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 289
Likes: 3
From: new york
reading this post makes me very happy I went the easy route and bypassed my heater core $8 for 2 hard plastic connectors and a pre fab u shaped piece of hose. Go figure i did it last week and its been getting into the 30's here in Florida.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 713
Likes: 62
From: Melbourne Fl.
These days, AC/DELCO is just a marketing or brand name. The parts come from various manufacturers of which some could be from the defunct GM divisions such as DELPHI or Harrison or whatever or they could come from aftermarket manufacturers in China, Mexico, Taiwan, etc. In some cases there are more than one AC/DELCO part number for the same application. This means that you have a choice of what manufacturer it comes from. Trying to determine what manufacturer it is can be problematic as the sellers have no idea. The whole car parts industry is totally confusing now especially if you are trying to stay with a particular manufacturer.
Warren
Warren
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
These days, AC/DELCO is just a marketing or brand name. The parts come from various manufacturers of which some could be from the defunct GM divisions such as DELPHI or Harrison or whatever or they could come from aftermarket manufacturers in China, Mexico, Taiwan, etc. In some cases there are more than one AC/DELCO part number for the same application. This means that you have a choice of what manufacturer it comes from. Trying to determine what manufacturer it is can be problematic as the sellers have no idea. The whole car parts industry is totally confusing now especially if you are trying to stay with a particular manufacturer.
Warren
Warren
