The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '51 heater core leak

Any suggestions? Noticed a small drip coming down between the seam of the heater cover yesterday. I just pulled the cover off. What do they cost? Or do I have to have it rebuilt? I don't see any on any of the truck sites. Also, truck is a v-8 if that has any effect on this type of heater core. Thanks.

Is the heater the original?

Looks like it was replaced in 2006. Have a receipt that says "heater box and control valve". Also I just looked on "chevs of the 40s" site and they have a heater core rebuild service for $375.00. I'll keep looking for more info.

If you are running a V8, it is likely that you are running more than a 7 lb radiator cap. The original design pressure was 4 pounds, so that may make an original heater fail. A radiator shop should be able to refurb your core for less than $375.

Check out obsolete Chevrolet: http://www.parts123.com/PartFrame.a...com&TITLE=Obsolete_Chevrolet_Part_Co

and Tucker: http://www.tuckersparts.com/AirConditioningHeating-tp2-81.html

Another option if you are unsucsessful finding the proper core you might be able to buy a complete heater from another year vehicle and jerry rig it under the dash.

I rebuilt my entire heater system last fall, after tracking down details to the Nth degree. I wanted it to look perfect, and perform perfectly. I probably wore out the "Heater Control Valve" thread with all of my questions about whether to rebuild, send to the internet guy, or buy a repop. (I bought the repop, then complained relentlessly about quality, fit, etc.)

I had a local radiator shop work on the core, and I was quite pleased with the result.

Last Friday night, I noticed a teaspoon of coolant on the passenger floor mat. Dang thing didn't even go 6 months without leaking, although up until then, it was fine.

I haven't yet tore into it to find out where my problem is- I'll wait until late summer. All I can offer is to make DARN SURE that you pressure test your core (like I did ) and do as Bill/Red58 recommends, and put the HCV outside of the cab. I'm fed up with the crap HCVs that are sold after-market as direct replacement. They are junk, through and through. Next time I'll throw my $45 out the window rather than give it to the thieves selling that Chinese POS. I hope they are reading this post.

Rant over.

Bill

Hey Bill, if ya want them to read this post ya gotta write from the top down not right to left. Almost two years into this and so far the only after market thing that I have been satisfied with is the new water pump I bought from Rock Auto, and believe me, I have bought a ton of stuff from most all of the other vendors that specialize in the Advance Design parts.

Rebuilding the original valve looks like it can be done at home in the garage with one of the kits and doesn't look to dificult. That is if the bulb is not damaged, if it is then ya got a problem. Mine is missing the bulb, it's just pinched off and the man says he can't rebuild them.
I also can't see where any competent radiator shop would have a problem fabricating a heater core. Maybe I'm missing something, I've not had mine out on the bench to take a look at it. Now a radiator is ssomething else, it's pretty special because of the tanks.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Thanks guys, I think I'll go with out heat for the time being.

Are we talking about a Fresh Air heater or a stock round one?

I posted here the other day but it seems to have disappeared. If this is a round core heater, the local rad shop will not be able to fabricate a new one for you. I bought a new round core from Jim Carter and had the rad shop install it into the heater assembly. It worked out fine.

It is 'fresh air', not round.

The Filling Station will rebuild your core for $200 and that's the going rate for these things. I must be the luckiest guy around... I had two cores pressure tested and repaired for $60. I was thinking of selling one but think I'll hang onto it as a spare.