heater core

[MikeB]

My friend replaced his leaking copper core, with aluminum, and the heat was TERRIBLE.

Maybe the aluminum core had gaps like the one in my picture, or maybe it had an internal blockage ??? I just can't see anything more than a minor difference, if any, between copper and aluminum. What are the new cars using? I'm pretty sure all the radiators are now aluminum.

 

[MikeB]

You specify with or without AC. There is a difference because of that.

Is your statement based on personal experience with both AC and non-AC trucks? I ask because, according to Spectra, the core for use with factory AC has different dimensions and hose nipple locations. At least that's true for my 82 C10. When I was shopping, I saw both "thick" and "thin" cores for non-AC trucks. And have heard from a couple guys on forums who had the exact same problem I did with the "thin" core. It fits fine but allows cold air to go around it.

With AC:

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Without AC:

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[Red 87]

I didn't think anything about this, until reading this thread. I replaced my '87's heater core with an aluminum one, and it's just now getting cold enough down here for me to run the heat in the mornings. I noticed right away that the heat was not coming out very warm...guess I'll be looking for a copper heater core now.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

I didn't think anything about this, until reading this thread. I replaced my '87's heater core with an aluminum one, and it's just now getting cold enough down here for me to run the heat in the mornings. I noticed right away that the heat was not coming out very warm...guess I'll be looking for a copper heater core now.

Was it the wide heater core? It may have cold air getting around the sides. Aluminum dissipates heat way more efficiently then copper and by all rights should work better. Post #11 shows the difference.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Let us know IF you find a copper one and WHERE.

 

[malibuman402]

got mine at advance auto parts, LMC truck, Brothers truck parts.

 

[Rusty Nail]

You has three?

 

[Sublime]

Let us know IF you find a copper one and WHERE.

Auto Zone, part #98553. I have no idea who Pro Source is, maybe zones re boxed name?

 

[shiftpro]

I put one in my 74(the beater)and it'll turn the cab into a sauna real quick, first time I ever used an aluminum one tho, so that's all I can say about them.

So you mean it was leaking...?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I got a summit brand copper/brass heater core. With a/c though, and the output locations are different between the two

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[Rusty Nail]

How mush?

 

[74 Shortbed]

So you mean it was leaking...?

Not the aluminum one, that works great.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

How mush?

Right around 50 bucks.

 

[MikeB]

Was it the wide heater core? It may have cold air getting around the sides. Aluminum dissipates heat way more efficiently then copper and by all rights should work better. Post #11 shows the difference.

Exactly! Assuming the problem is due to aluminum is like saying, "My Goodyear tire size is too small, so I'm switching to Firestones."

Funny, but I just read a thread on a Toyota forum where a guy strongly recommends the OE copper/bass heater core instead of aftermarket aluminum. However, turns out the factory core IS aluminum!

I'd go to a local parts store and put my hands on one. Also, as I mentioned above, some of the parts store like O'Reilly Auto have free lifetime warranties on heater cores. Same is true for alternators, PS pumps, starters, etc,

 

[Red 87]

Was it the wide heater core? It may have cold air getting around the sides. Aluminum dissipates heat way more efficiently then copper and by all rights should work better. Post #11 shows the difference.

Honestly, I didn't know there was a difference in the thickness of the heater cores, but I would've needed the thinner one anyway because I have factory A/C. I know aluminum dissipates heat better than copper, but I would think that copper would be better because you want the core to retain heat...not dissipate it quicker. If the core retains the heat better, then when the fan blows over it, the air coming out the vents would be warmer...which is what we want.

Here is the side-by-side pic of the old core and the new one I bought from AutoZone. The factory one is definitely NOT aluminum, and it was much heavier, too.

So now looking at these two side-by-side, it's clear the one I got from AutoZone is not as wide as the OEM one, so air is probably coming in from those gaps around it.

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