[68 Caretaker]

Took the engine out of my 68 to do some cosmetic work. Knowing the whole history of this car, I thought I would replace the original heater core. Ordered one from Ames for a 68 and they sent one for a 69-72. Mine has a straight lower tube, not the 45 degree tube. I called them and was told that early 68 used a different core that is not available. My upper tube is slightly crushed from changing out the old hard hose years ago. After looking at core dimensions for a 67, I think it might fit. Anyone know if a 67 is the right one? My firewall doesn’t have the oval hole for the angled lower tube.

[gtokid1968]

Can't answer your question for sure.
But when I got my 68 back in 04 it came with a replacement heater core and after looking closely, I found the same thing you have found (IIRC)
I have read many times that the 68 has a lot of things like that because of the body change and the auto worker's strike.

[68gtoMN]

Originally Posted by 68 Caretaker

Took the engine out of my 68 to do some cosmetic work. Knowing the whole history of this car, I thought I would replace the original heater core. Ordered one from Ames for a 68 and they sent one for a 69-72. Mine has a straight lower tube, not the 45 degree tube. I called them and was told that early 68 used a different core that is not available. My upper tube is slightly crushed from changing out the old hard hose years ago. After looking at core dimensions for a 67, I think it might fit. Anyone know if a 67 is the right one? My firewall doesn’t have the oval hole for the angled lower tube.

Let me go out to my 68 today in the garage to examine heater core at firewall of my VERY early car. In fact, that car was produced on August 9, 1967 - the first 68 GTO convertible ever made (built 1st hour of production at Pontiac). What I can't validate is if this heater core was ever replaced.

If I recall from last look, the top tube was straight, but the lower tube might bend upward. Also, I have an original 68 heater core (good) on my bench I can look at. More after work day concludes.

UPDATE: Call ended early so I dashed out to look. Lower tube bends on the installed core in my convertible. Replaced? Perhaps. Still together so I don't know. Pictures of '67 cores show straight tubes, but I don't have one to measure.

[OG68]

I had an original straight tube on my May built 68. Replaced it with another straight tube last year that my radiator guy ordered. Wasn't cheap.

[gtoguys]

My January built GTO has one tube bent. When it did leak, I put in a heater core from 66 Lemans. It had straight tubes, but it was thicker than the 68. It worked well. When I did my concours restoration, I had my original heater core recored. It was a devil of a time to get back in since neither hole was oval.

[68 Caretaker]

Thanks for the responses guys. I will either take mine to my local radiator shop and have him try to straighten the upper tube, or remove the lower straight tube and have it soldered into the new core. I wonder if the location that the car was built has anything to do with it? My car was built the second week of January in Pontiac.

[OG68]

5A - Fremont; Straight tube

[gtoguys]

Mine was the second week of January.

[gtoguys]

At the Pontiac plant.