A few years ago while getting my car ready for a body and paint upgrade I overhauled the heater box. New core, seals and gaskets , cleaned and painted as well as new cables. I am finally putting the car together to drive it this summer. Yesterday while installing heater hoses, the lower hose nipple came off in my hand. Very little pressure just came completely out of the solder joint. I recall buying it from Summit but it was probably from China. Does any radiator builder make a heater core? Does anyone have a suggestion on where to get a decent core? Thanks Duke
I would take it and have it resoldered. From now on I take my new ones and have them checked. I purchased a new one and it leaked. I had to tear the whole dash back out so I said to myself never again. I always have them tested and when they see week solder around the nipples they beef them up.
Duke, If you have a radiator shop near you, they can fix it. Better yet if you can find a Harrison core, they'll be able to re-core it. The made in Mexico/China crap is just that - crap. Speaking of which, it's a crap job, that no one wants to do once (see above) nevermind, twice. In the event you do have a shop near you and need a re-core, make sure they use the made in America high efficiency Maine Auto Radiator cores. You won't regret it.
Thanks for the replies. Part of the issue these days is even find a radiator shop to work on anything.
Good point. I've had a couple members ship their cores to me and my guy here in town did them. The last one I had done for a local guy (late last year) was around $225. Pricey, yes but doing the job once and knowing it's not going to leak kind of makes it worth it. You can't beat factory fit and function.
Thanks for the replies. When I searched yesterday for a local radiator shop - I found out the one I had used years ago still exists. About 20 blocks away. They declared the heater core as a good one then resoldered the nipple and tested it all. 15 minutes and $25 well spent.
Adding to an old thread: On my 65 Riv I a going to have to swap the heater core. Is my best option to: -- recore existing (possibilty). -- go NOS (uh, ain't gonna happen) -- aftermarket copper. -- aftermarket aluminum. And if aftermarket, are there brands or sources to be sought out or to be avoided?
I mean, is aluminum theoretically justcas or close to as long lived as copper in this application? Or is reality that aluminum ones are made by companies that cut corners and hence quality is poor, while copper ones are made by more reputable companies and hence quality is higher? Also, since the original units lasted 30 to 60 years, is longevity even an issue? meaning if it fails when I'm 100...
All new car radiators are aluminum, or a mix of aluminum core/plastic tank, and I would imagine new car heater cores are also aluminum, so.....
Copper is a better conductor of heat then Aluminum, but I can't help you on lifespan. If it's an easy core to replace (yes, there are such things) I probably would go with Aluminum, because you don't need heat all that often in Ft. Lauderdale. I would not give the same advice if you lived in New England.
You really want to have yours recored. The replacement units in and outlet tubes are shorter than original. If the current one is a replacement then it would have no bearing. Either way have the new one tested for leaks before install. If you have an A/C car buy some new swear words for the job.
The two heater cores I got from Summit were ok. Copper and no issue with the tubes. Fit was fine. 67 and 70 A bodies w/ AC. Not sure about availability for a Riv, but if I had the time I would send the original (assuming its OEM) to Brett and have his guy recore it.
