I have two problems with the part supplied:
They say it is "identical to Chevrolet's original valve" and that it "will work equally well in 57 - 59." Both of those sentences are incorrect. The valve is a replacement, not a reproduction since it is different.
The second problem is with the quality. The copper line is extremely thin. It is going to bend/kink under any bending load and is not nearly as sturdy as the original.
I'm working the solution on two fronts. (LongBox55/Bill, thanks for the tip on the potential sources.) I cleaned up the old valve and after a pressure check on it, I'll reassemble the system with the old valve. When it leaks, I'll probably send it off to the guy who rebuilds them.
I would be unfair to Chevy Duty if I didn't mention that they are taking back the valve they sent and giving me a refund. (I'm cancelling the back-ordered parts.) I paid $12 shipping to get the valve to me, and I'll spend at least another $6 getting it back to them. This has been an $18 lesson in trusting my hunches.
Another lesson I learned is to forget about on-line ordering. I should have waited until Monday morning and talked to a person to make sure the valve was for my application, and just what "equally well" means. It would have saved the frustration of the surprise back-order, the $18 shipping, this thread, and my heater still laying in pieces on the shop floor.
Bill
