Heater core

I'm checking to see if anyone has direct experience with using any of the following heater cores for non-A/C applications. Anything I should watch for? Thanks.

Rock Auto Spectra Premium/ Cooling Depot $35.95

Rock Auto APDI/PRO. $52.77

Melvins HTR 9033. $60.00

MD

 

"Anything I should watch for?"

you check or have them checked for leaks before installing...

 

It was for A/c but the spectra heater core is in my car and it fit with no problems at all. It has been in there for two months with no problem at all.

 

I had the factory core repaired at the radiator shop

 

Thanks for the ideas.

MD

 

Not sure if you have taken the old one out yet but the correct way is to remove the complete fibre glass assembly box according to Ford.
Once on the bench you can check the other componets inside the assembly for rust and can even replace felts and gaskets.

 

I'll be doing a non-AC heater core replacement soon as well. Take pics if you get the chance as I don't have experience with it either. I was just going to order mine from OReilly

 

DocRoche:
Frank has done a tech article on the removal and it is stored under " General Tech Articles"
You can also do a search because this has been talked about alot. And as others have mentioned make sure you get the new core tested at a rad shop because you won't like doing the removal twice and repo's do leak sometimes.

 

Awesome, thank you.

 

I see the article on removing a heater core with AC by Frank. That's some impressive detail. I do not have AC, but think I saw threads on non-AC heater cores in the search before.

 

Finally got around to ordering a new heater core. I was able to source one from my local auto parts store and it was delivered to the store from the warehouse in one day. There was no info on it and it appeared to be a brass one. Unfortunately it was crushed along one edge (possibly a rebuild?) so I took it back. The replacement came right away, but this time it was an aluminum one from Spectra. It was made in China.

I did what Frank (71gold) recommended and had it pressure tested at a rad shop. Took it to 20 psi. No leaks. Paid the guy 10 bucks ($7.50 US) for the work. The 4 photos are the first unit I puchased and returned, the replacement Spectra unit, the Spectra unit in the water bath with 20 psi of air pressure on it (There was a piece of angle iron on it to keep it submerged) and the label on the Spectra unit. Next step is to install it but my wife says I have to clean the garage out first.

 

Just did this last month, and threw in the cheapest one I could get on ebay. It looked like the brass one in your picture. The install was super easy, but the box was so old that it cracked in a few places just taking the clips off, so i had to rebuilt it in places with epoxy and fiberglass. Also, I should have replaced the blower motor while I was in there, as it went 2 weeks after and I had to pull the box again (which means dropping the lower dash which was also cracked up old plastic that needed repairs with fiberglass and epoxy.) Blows strong heat now though just as the cold weather has come in.