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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,089 Posts1,056,004 Members48,430 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 679 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2006 Posts: 679 | I tell you, the gods of heater control valves are looking down upon me today.
My original HCV leaked so I bought a reproduction. It didn't fit properly, was poor quality, and leaked in less than a year.
I bought a NAPA replacement diaphragm and attempted to repair my old one, thinking I'd send it out to a rebuild service if it failed.
A bench check of my repair efforts showed it was unsuccessful, so I took the original, the repro, and my heater core to the local radiator shop for him to do full-up testing to find out the extent of the problems.
I talked to the shop today: he REPAIRED my old valve, said the repro had no value, and verified the core had no leaks. Total cost: $40.
This is much cheaper (at least half price) than sending it out to a valve repair service. You might consider checking your local radiator shop if your valve leaks. I did this on impulse and am glad I did.
Bill | | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 341 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 341 | Thanks for letting us know Bill. I think I will check back with the shop that tested my heater core to see if they rebuild the Ranco valves.
Allan
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1951 GMC 1/2-ton
Two 1953 Chevy 3100 5-window
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | Good tip, Bill. Our local rad shop has an excellent technician. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 426 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 426 | there is a guy who rebuilds the ranco valves at heatercontrolvalve.com. He does the Harrison valves also. Round $90 and he has a warrenty on all his work. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 679 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2006 Posts: 679 | That's one of the rebuild services that was my "plan B" in case the radiator shop job failed. My point is that I was able to shop locally for half price.
I'm not disparaging heatercontrolvalve guy's work because I've never used it. In fact, I thought he (among a couple other outfits) was the only option I had. Turns out I found a local option that was more competitively priced.
It's possible to buy a brand new Ranco HCV from Sweden. These run ~$125 + freight. Still another option for those who no longer have cores.
Bill
Last edited by TxLaTx; 11/12/2011 3:46 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,254 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,254 | I bought the valve at napa for about $10. Rebuilt the control valve today. Works fine now.
Dennis
-there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer-
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 Master Gabster | | Master Gabster Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 4,983 | Just shows you what good things can happen when we think outside the box. 
~Jim
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