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-   -   AaaRrgg!!!! Heater core!!! (https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=678703)

mechanickeith 10-11-2011 11:27 PM

AaaRrgg!!!! Heater core!!!
 
Came out today to find a puddle of green under the car. The 2 year old NOS Harrison heater core is leaking!!! Coolant running down between the heater box & the firewall. Am going to bypass it till I get the time to pull it apart & see whats up!!

ahnuld 10-11-2011 11:43 PM

i thought you didn't need heat in arizona.

TempestFugit 10-12-2011 12:08 AM

That sux.. are the clamps inside the box or outside?

mechanickeith 10-12-2011 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahnuld (Post 4438367)
i thought you didn't need heat in arizona.

In the winter after a storm front has gone over, it clears off & the temps can drop 30 degrees in one day. Lots of low 30's-40's here in the valley. BUT, I dont stay just in Phx during the winter. I do go up to the high country & have lots of drive time in the snow with this car.

mechanickeith 10-12-2011 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TempestFugit (Post 4438377)
That sux.. are the clamps inside the box or outside?

Outside clamps.. Just ticks me off that the high dollar NOS is leaking. Once I get it out, will take it to the shop that built my radiator last year. Have it checked out/repaired/rebuilt. May not be the core. The hot water valve is inside of the heater box. That could be leaking also.

ahnuld 10-12-2011 01:25 AM

i didn't think it got that cold there, 30 f is like summer here.

mechanickeith 10-12-2011 01:42 AM

Arizona can pull down the high & low temp for the continental US on the same day.
Lots of times it can be in the 70's in the Phoenix area & 200 miles away in the White Mountains it will be 30 below!!! Can go swimming in the back yard pool in the morning, drive north 2 hours & play in the snow till afternoon & drive back home & go swimming again.

GaryK 10-12-2011 09:48 AM

My NOS heater core needed to have the inlet tube soldered.

mechanickeith 10-12-2011 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryK (Post 4438548)
My NOS heater core needed to have the inlet tube soldered.

Gary, I looked it over real good before installing it. Also put in a NOS water valve at the same time. Got to be one or the other. Either way the box has to come out. Need to get it done before it really cools off.

mechanickeith 01-13-2013 11:14 PM

Bringing this back up!!! After getting my core repaired last winter, there have been no issues,,,,till this morning!!! Very cold today, in the mid to low 20's!! Left early to have breakfast with some club friends. Driving down the road & glanced in the mirror. Saw a big spiral of smoke behind me!!! Quickly pulled over to check things out. Motor was running fine. Looked under the hood to find coolant running down again all over the hot exhaust! Topped off the radiator & left the cap loose & continued on. When I got home, I bypassed the core again & pulled the heater box out. The core split right down the end of the core tank, maybe 3 inches!! I know I had a good mix of antifreexe in it. Fresh from a flush & new T stat just a couple of weeks ago. So, made a temporary block off plate & am going tomorrow after work to turn in the core & get another one made. Never fails!!! Going to be a cold drive to work tomorrow!! Going to be even colder Monday & Tuesday than today!!!!

blueghoast 01-14-2013 12:56 AM

Keith I bought a heater core for a 74 chevy truck.
The lenth was the same but the width+height was
A little smaller. And I had to make a differant hole
for one of the tubes. It's alluminium and was only
$37.00 shiped to my door. I eliminated the little
conootin valve thingy. Just a thought. I have the
part number to if you want it.

GT.

63 tempest 01-14-2013 03:29 PM

Look for a 1984 s10 heater core its d same size for a 63 temp or lemans not shored if 62 is d same as 63

63Banshee 01-14-2013 06:44 PM

I've got one you might try if you get stuck.

mechanickeith 01-14-2013 06:59 PM

Well,,, my parts book shows different numbers for the 61 & 62 heater cores. I will know tomorrow if they can fix this one or make another. Was awfully cold this morning on the way to work!

63Banshee 01-14-2013 07:14 PM

They are different. I've got one in a low mileage 61 car. Not being used in 5 years can be an issue, but might be worth a try.

indymanjoe 01-14-2013 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechanickeith (Post 4438399)
Arizona can pull down the high & low temp for the continental US on the same day.
Lots of times it can be in the 70's in the Phoenix area & 200 miles away in the White Mountains it will be 30 below!!! Can go swimming in the back yard pool in the morning, drive north 2 hours & play in the snow till afternoon & drive back home & go swimming again.

When did you start selling real estate? LOL i wanna move now...

Sirrotica 01-14-2013 08:42 PM

Keith, I was doing some reading and the green coolant can get acidic when in a system with a hot water control valve as it sits and gets stagnant. It went on to say that not only does the stagnant coolant cause leaks it also causes boiler scale inside the heater cores prematurely. It said that was why the newer vehicles don't have them, the engineers figured that the coolant was better left to circulate so the heater cores lasted longer.

The piece said that 2 other things can cause this phenomenon called silicate drop out is hard water being added to the coolant, and too high of a concentration of antifreeze, over 50%. They suggested using distilled water to mix with the antifreeze and said that even if the PH testing was good it can still happen. The article said coolant should be changed at a minimum of every 2 years and where it's subjected to heat extremes even sooner. I'm not sure if this may apply to you or not, just something I learned and thought I'd pass it along.

GaryK 01-14-2013 09:39 PM

I too have a couple used 61 complete heater assemblies and some 63's if you want to change it over.

John in Minnesota 01-15-2013 06:57 PM

AWFULLY COLD !!!! LOL !!!!

mechanickeith 01-15-2013 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John in Minnesota (Post 4831477)
AWFULLY COLD !!!! LOL !!!!

Mid-20's is cold,,,when you are used to the 70's this time of year!! Heat pump went out in the house. No $$$ to get it fix's yet. Was in the 30's in the house when I got up this morning!!


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