66 heater core

[Peter J.]

I took my original core and the currant Chinese repop in to our local radiator repair shop in hopes of having the inlet and outlet tubes swapped so as to look correct. This guy with over thirty years of experience looked at both and then boiled flushed and pressure tested my Harrison from May of 66 and said if it were him he would use the Harrison from the car, because it was so much better made. This is not the answer I expected.
Joe Lucia was right I got a repop from GM and it was the same make as the one I just got from one of the known catalog part suppliers.
Any input on using a 42 year old heater core as opposed to using a poorly made import repop.

[Joe L.]

Re: 66 heater core

I took my original core and the currant Chinese repop in to our local radiator repair shop in hopes of having the inlet and outlet tubes swapped so as to look correct. This guy with over thirty years of experience looked at both and then boiled flushed and pressure tested my Harrison from May of 66 and said if it were him he would use the Harrison from the car, because it was so much better made. This is not the answer I expected.
Joe Lucia was right I got a repop from GM and it was the same make as the one I just got from one of the known catalog part suppliers.
Any input on using a 42 year old heater core as opposed to using a poorly made import repop.

Peter-----


If the existing heater core checks out ok on a pressure test, it's ok for further use. The real question is how long it will continue to be ok. My experience with C3 heater cores is that they don't last more than about 10 years even with regular cooling system maintenance, INCLUDING the original Harrison-manufactured pieces. I don't see why C2 cores would be a lot different. With a 42 year old core, I'd be concerned about its continuing serviceability.

[Bill I.]

Re: 66 heater core

Peter, be careful reinstalling the core, those inlet and outlet tubes are very fragile, ask me how I know. Bill.