The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors I'm tossing this monster heater...

After spending the past few weeks under my dash I've decided to toss this monster brand X heater. This thing looks like it came out of a Mack truck or a Greyhound bus, with three huge mounting studs through firewall plus the two water lines.

I need recomendations for a replacement, NOS or repro? Wood stove?

which truck? 'repro' usually means aftermarket brand Z, maybe you're looking for a decent original for the year to rebuild

Bill

This is for my '53 3600. Re. an original, does anyone make a quality replacement core???

core availability would depend on which model heater you find, Carter has a couple different cores that should be good, and likely other vendors as well

Bill

The two "factory" heaters for the 53 are these. Only difference is the 53-55 1st Air Flow has a door like the one in picture 2. Round core is difficult to source, square core is now reproduced. All levels of these heaters are available from parts to restored to NOS.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129448404/in/set-72157631868452754
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129470099/in/set-72157631868452754

Brad, I'm finding these heaters on ebay, everything from a rusty hulk to finished ready to install. After also checking out price for new cores I'm thinking a restored unit may be the way to go.

Wondering if controls, cables etc are being reproduced? Not seeing much of those parts for sale.

The recirculating heater does not need anything but a switch so it is fairly easy. The switch looks like this and there are several varieties and colors it is applicable to both heaters.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129352382/in/set-72157631868452754
The Air Flow on the other hand has a few more parts, a Ranco valve, dash bracket, control stalk, and a firewall gasket that goes around the motor. Valves are available rebuilt from some vendors, most of the other hardware will need to be sourced used or NOS. This is what the various parts look like if you look through my photos you can see more views.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129313579/in/set-72157631868452754

I've seen two types that look similar in that they both attach to the opening in the kick panel. One has a door the other does not, I'm thinking go without the door and save having to locate the valve/cable etc etc.

I do have the HEAT switch, I grab those when I see them.
Thanks again for the input.
Jim

There are two types of Air Flow heaters one with the door 53-55 1st, and the one without 1947-52. The parts I mentioned are common to both of these Air Flows.
With:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129313579/in/set-72157631868452754
Without:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129343557/in/set-72157631868452754

Check your local swap meets, I find the standard heaters for sale, in the $15-20 range most of the time. Just pickup up a nice, clean one last month. So, if you need parts, keep looking!

Mike