The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 1953 Chevrolet Heater

Does anyone know where I can find a heater core for a 1953 Chevrolet truck? Mine is leaking. The radiator shop tells me they can't repair it.

Check out Vintage Air

Is it a deluxe heater?
If so, there are replacement cores available, just not widely available.
I know because my radiator man recored mine. He said that only one place in the US was making those cores, and that place was in Maine. Needless to say, it was not exactly cheap.

Melvin,

Check with bowtie bits, the last time i was there he had about 500 + heater assy's & parts.
1.888.838.6887
[email protected]

TRUCKMAN

Maine Radiator in Lewiston Maine may be able to help you out. They carry complete cores. Not sure if they will sell to an individual though might have to have some business like Radiator or body shop.

I'm surprised that your radiator shop can not send it out to be re-cored.

When I took my heater core from my 59 GMC into a small town rad shop they tested it, told me it was unrepairable and that a re-core would be $100 and they would have it in tomorrow if that is what I wanted to do.

Thanks to everyone that responded. I'll check these out. Thank You

Melvin I have a heater core. I will part with it.

Golden State Parts have heater cores for sale. http://www.golden-state-parts.com/

I couldn't find any heater cores in Golden State's online catalog - only a bunch of expensive heaters.

If you search for the thread on this, there is a place in the new England area that sells the cores. I am talking about the round cores. I did my own repair because the local rad shop was no help and I didn't want to spend the money for a new one.

Oh - I was talking about the deluxe square heater core. A local rad shop wanted over $100 for a new one, which seemed a bit ridiculous to me - it is only a little bitty radiator, not a block of gold.

Just for comparison, I think the new cores for the round ones cost around $300, if I remember correctly. That is for a non deluxe heater which does not bring in fresh air!

Golden State Parts 2004-5 catalog has heater cores on page 44, but they are not too cheap either. They range in price from $225 to $300 and all require a refundable $50 core charge. If you are interested I could scan the page and send it to you via email. I found a heater core on ebay for my Fresh Air Heater, which is supposed to fit 51-55 heaters. The heater-core for this type heater goes for $225 + core at GS.

I made my own round heater core out of flexible copper tubing and some other copper pipe parts, angles and T's. It works okay, good enough to keep the cab on my '51 3100 comfortable. And it will never leak again. Just installed and test drove it but did not run up to full speed. It may work better when I get the water hotter.

I have a '55 1st series with a fresh air heater. My radiator shop ordered a new core from somewhere on the east coast. It cost me $219 for the repair. Nothing like having a good heater in the winter.

I have found some of the old Harrison heaters, 47-53 at swap meets, most of the time for under $20 or so. It's a risk but at least you get the heater core. Checked at an older radiator shop in Ft Worth, the old man knew what I was talking about(the round core) said no charge for checking for leaks, and about $35 for a repair job. Something to keep in mind rather than spending big bucks for a repo core.

classic parts america has them for 170 as does chevs of 40s for same price.

has anyone bought one?
who made it?

As was asked in your other post:

For what style heater?

For what year heater?