C2 Heater Core?

[Eugene B.]

Members,
I will be shopping for a heater core for my '65 w/o AC next week.

Is there a consensus among the membership which replacement core is the best choice? It looks like there is Delco, North American, and Far East to chose from.

Interested in your thoughts and experiences.

Regards,
Gene

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Gene-----

It's a "crapshoot", anymore, with these things (and, a lot of other items, too). The "Delco" cores have not been manufactured by Harrison for quite a few years, now. Like so many other Delco parts, especially for older applications, the manufacture of these things has been "consolidated" into, basically, aftermarket manufacturers and the parts packaged in Delco boxes. At this point in the "life cycle" of the part, the demand is low enough that it just doesn't justify a whole lot of manufacturing entities being involved. That's especially true for the old GM parts manufacturing operations which are now part of DELPHI. Their focus is "hi-tech" parts for recent applications, PRODUCTION and SERVICE. Low volume SERVICE parts for old applications is just not on their "radar screen", at all. When these operations were part of GM, they continued to manufacture parts for older applications for a surprisingly long period of time. That's what we're all "used to", but those days are over.

Anyway, I still tend to go with Delco-branded products, even if they may be exactly the same as the parts packaged under other (and, less expensive) brand names. The cost difference just isn't that much and I prefer a part "backed" by GM. That's the "magic" of "brand-marketing". Strange as it may seem, when it comes to medications, I'm a big fan of generics. When it comes to car parts, I usually only feel comfortable with name brands, even though they may often be the same as lesser known.

Actually, as of late, I've been seeking out the absolutely highest quality heater core for my 69. I'm going to have to change this before I get the car back on the road. I haven't been able to find anything better than Delco, though, and, as I say, I don't think the Delco product these days is as good as the Delco product of old.

I would gladly pay 2 or 3 times as much for a heater core if I knew that it was "bullet proof". Changing these things is such a pain that I'd like to do it and then forget about it ever again. For a C4, a person should be willing to spend 10 TIMES as much to get a "bullet proof" core. In fact, 20 times as much wouldn't be out of the question, either (at least, for anyone who's changed one or paid the LABOR CHARGES for someone else to do it).

I've even thought that it might be nice to find an ALUMINUM heater core replacement for a C2, or C3 (or C4; C4 heater cores are copper/brass while the radiators are aluminum). The C2-C3 aluminum radiators can last 40 years, with care; the heater cores will barely last 10 years in a system so cared for. So, I figure that maybe a HIGH QUALITY aluminum core might be the way to go. Plus, an all aluminum system would make the use of Dex-Cool more "comforting". I haven't found one yet. But, I'm still looking.

[Kevin M.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Maybe we can talk DeWitts into making heater cores. That 3Xs the price might just tempt him. They would not have to be pretty or date coded just built stronger.

Kevin

[Joe R.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Kevin, Joe:

I love the idea of asking DeWitts to make "bulletproof" heater cores. I too would gladly pay a hefty premium to get a core that would not have to be replaced for 20+ years.

Can some list members who know the folks at DeWitts inquire about this "opportunity"?

[Eugene B.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Joe,
Thank you for your reply and thoughts.

I was disappointed when I took my old core to a radiator shop here in Columbus and the guy wasn't interested in cleaning, soldering and pressure testing it like they used to do in the old days.

I think I would feel better about using my original Harrison than a replacement of questionable origin. Perhaps I should try another radiator shop or is it a bad to try to repair and reuse an old core?

Thanks again, Joe.

Regards,
Gene

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Gene-----

I don't think that you'll find too many radiator shops that will service a heater core anymore. Personally, I think that a new one is going to be a better piece than a used, repaired one. Just because they're not made by Harrison doesn't mean that they're no good or, even, inferior. My non-Harrison manufactured Delco cores have lasted just as long, if not longer, than the original Harrison and the first replacement (manufactured by Harrison).

[Joseph K.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Just last wek I bought a replacement core for my 65 sb/no air from auto zone for 35.00 . It is almost a dead ringer for the original that I just pulled from the car, including weight ,and quality of build. A few days later I saw the add in the Corvette Central catalog and their picture was a duplicate of the core that I recieved from Autozone, not to mention no shipping charge. For those that might like to know the Harrison core was marked 64l and the heater box marked October 65 for my car serial # 5371.

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Joe-----

That doesn't surprise me, at all. As I say, I think that most of the cores on the market today for older Corvette applications, regardless of what box they're packaged in, are products of only a few manufacturing sources. I think that one of these sources is located in Mexico and the other likely in the far east.

The last Delco core I used was a non-Harrison manufactured unit. It appeared very similar to the Harrison, though, except for the lack of the Harrison embossment. There were slight dimensional differences, though, which required some minor modification to the interior of the heater box and, especially, the metal clip inside the box. To date, this core has probably lasted longer than any other core I ever had in the car, although I think it will need to be replaced before I put the car on the road again.

I really believe that the main problem that causes failure of these cores is the solder joints. These fail either due to vibration or corrosion of the solder. I think that this is the "life-limiting" factor in these things. This is why I like the idea of an aluminum replacement. An aluminum replacement of contemporary design would include only welded and/or plastic tank with crimped construction. Aluminum construction with plastic tanks works real well in my experience. An all aluminum core would be fine, too.

[Eugene B.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Joe,
Thank you for your response to my posting.

I would like to check out the Autozone core. Can you provide me an Autozone part number?

Thanks,
Gene

[Joseph K.]

Re: C2 Heater Core?

Gene, the numbers that were stamped on the box are READY-AIRE # 398212. Below this was the word Fedco. This was purchased at Autozone..Joe