The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How hard is it to change the heater core in a '63 C-10?

I've got a '63 with the deluxe heater controls. The heater core took a dump on me yesterday. Besides the new heater core and some antifreeze, do I need to buy some new hardware too? I haven't had time to take anything apart. Is it a horrible job, or something a normal person with basic tools can accomplish?

Thanks for any help.

Basic set of tools will do it. Not hard at all. Should be able to do it in 30 minutes.

Revoh,
It's probably the easiest core to replace that's out there. All you need is a 1/4" nut driver and a few minutes of your time. I'm sure you already know, but it's under the hood under the lid of the box that's mounted to the firewall, not in the cab like most.
Good luck,
Scott

Well, this should have been easy, but there's always something that gets inthe way. I bought the new core at Classic Parts, because they're kind of near my house. They overcharged me, but I knew it, I was there, and I figured it would be the right thing.

Of course, there were complications.

When I went home and took the old core out, the connections on the new one are in a different place, and there is no provision for the temperature control cable to hook on like on my original heater core. So not only would it not fit correctly in the box on the firewall, but I wouldn't be able to hook it up right either.

So I took it back, and checked out their core for the standard heater. It was even more way off, so I got a refund because they couldn't match my heater core.

I tried a few places like O'Reilly, and the ones they have are just like Classic Parts--wrong for my truck.

My truck is as original as they come, including the heater box and this old Harrison heater core, yet all of the ones that are supposed to fit are completely wrong. I don't understand how they can be so much different. What are people buying these for? Maybe they are really not the same for later years, they just didn't know that when they put it in their catalogs and parts lists? I don't get it at all.

Anyway, looks like I'll just take the old one to a radiator shop and have them weld it up for me. :rolleyes:

Hey Rev,
Look in the LMC catalog (page 64 in mine). They show three difference cores with their dimensions, and you live pretty close to them. Measure yours up and see if it's available.
Just a thought,
Scott

I went over to LMC at lunch today, and their heater core was wrong too. The guy punched up the reasons people returned them on his computer, and "DIDN'T FIT" was on the list like 100 times. Whoever the manufacturer of this heater core is must have something labeled wrong in their catalogs or something, because it sure won't work in a '63 truck with the Deluxe heater. :rolleyes:

You may have to find a 64 box to hang on your firewall then so you can get a standard core for it.
Scott

I have a 1954 1st and a 1957 SB and both heater cores leak. I've looked around most of the typical web sites LMC, Brothers, Truck Shop but cannot locate a replacement for either. Can the cores be repaired similar to radiators or can they be removed from the housing and replaced? Anyone have experience with these years heaters cores or advise? Strat