Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #15 – January 17, 2012, 07:36:27 PM I'd have to agree with that, Jerry, for the most part.But I would also like to add my observations...it does seem that the aluminum cores don't last as long, undoubtedly due to the electrolytic process associated with the coolant flow. In this respect, a copper core is probably a better choice. Getting a good quality copper core, that's the trick. If I were to need a core and didn't want to pay the Ford price, I'd probably head on over to some Mustang boards, or NATO, to see what they have added to the discussion. IIRC the NATO guys like the NAPA cores.Here's a quick link from LMRS:http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/Product/Search?q=heater%20core&vehicle=MustangSimilar from Fox Resto:http://www.foxresto.com/products/search/query:heater%20core/byYear:86Additionally, some observations from others have been posted on the infamous heater core page of my site:http://www.coolcats.net/help/heatercore.htmlTips from soldering a helper brace, to also replacing the blower motor while you're in there...just something to think about.FYI, the stock Ford core, copper, for a/c cars, manual (non-ATC), is p/n E9LY-18476-A.Quick search for that: http://www.rearcounter.com/E9LY18476A-parts111209.htmlThere was also a TSB from Ford years ago concerning the Turbo Coupes (IIRC, 1987-88 but could be older non-intercooled models as well). If a car kept killing heater cores at an abnormal rate, Ford's suggestion was to solder a piece of copper wiring onto the core housing, run it outside into the engine bay, and ground it to the block, to help slow down electrolysis. I'm thinking that may solve problems for anyone with abnormally failing cores...assuming the cores weren't POS's to begin with. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #16 – January 17, 2012, 08:48:10 PM Interesting.What size wire? Any ground, or does it have to go to the block? Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #17 – January 17, 2012, 09:46:19 PM Direct to block is always the best ground.I would think any home electrical ground wire is sufficient enough. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #18 – January 18, 2012, 01:28:12 AM I get all of my Motorcraft parts at Circle Distributing (online) http://www.cdiautoparts.comMost of the time they have the original equipment parts at wholesale prices. I checked on the Cougar heater core and they didn't have the OEM Ford core but they did stock the AC Delco for $28.77. http://c2c.activant.com/ctoc/index.jsp?ID=fBS16GCw.CU5_Oy9_CUdEM2REUVFxS1UMSndRTAkBEQAA Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #19 – January 18, 2012, 09:17:26 AM Quote from: thewestie;377894Did you say apartment like you moved? Who's watching the Olds? Well back to school for the semester. Home quite a bit, still working in Worcester occasionally. Olds safely covered away in my garage till the snow/salt it come. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #20 – January 18, 2012, 03:53:57 PM Oh Boy, I just did a Core on my 89 Lincoln last month--in fact, Christmas Eve. I went to Advanced at 4:30pm as they were still open for 30 more minutes. Luckily I brought the old core with me. The counter guy looks up the core and brings the box up front. I looked at the core and told him "This replacement is way to small and different than mine." The replacement was physically smaller; all aluminum and the pipes were mounted differently. He then remarks--maybe you have a mid-year core meaning that they put an 1988 core into your '89! He looks up an 1988 core and brings that back to the counter--and lo and behold, that one is identical with mine. I was impressed with his calm approach in resolving this as well as my not having made the mistake of blindly walking out the door with the wrong part on Christmas Eve (Saturday). It would have been Tuesday am before I could return and I would be at work anyway. As a result, I was able to finish the job on Christmas day!! I was told that when auto makers switch production on model years, they often continue to use prior model year parts on new production--making it fuzzy to buy parts accurately. Shown is the good replacement vs old leaky one. Are you sure that maybe this happened to you? Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #21 – January 18, 2012, 04:04:52 PM Quote from: T-BirdX3;377920Where are you buying your Motocraft cores at, and how much are you paying for them? The Ford dealer here wants $160 for a core, that is extremely overpriced IMHO!I have a local shop that is an independent Motorcraft dealer. When I bought my core I paid $60, but that was eight years ago. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #22 – January 19, 2012, 10:56:16 AM Quote from: Haystack;377929The heater core I received was a bit too small too, but it came with a foam seal and instructions saying to wrap it around the core. Every one except for the brass/copper one I have done came with a different sized heater core, and different sized foam or rubber seal to go around it. Also, if they aren't asking you abut electric or manual heater, you are getting the wrong one.http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?3522-Replacement-Motorcraft-heater-core-doesn-t-fit-correctly...There are many many threads about it. The motorcraft one is discountinued, an will get more expensive until it isn't avaliable anymore.[COLOR="darkred"]A bit too small is one thing, but the one unit is literally an inch too short. That is a lot to make up for with some foam padding. I also did not realize their is a difference between the cores depending on whether it is manual heat or not. Learn something new everyday, thanks![/COLOR][COLOR="darkred"]I found a lot of threads but most of them were very old, like the one you quoted, it is going on eight years old. I was hoping for more up to date information, so much has changed since the 2008 nightmare[/COLOR]. Quote from: EricCoolCats;377946A quick search on Rock Auto:http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1140185&parttype=6864At least the photos are a good point of reference.Didn't know what year/engine you had, nor if you had A/C, and ATC or manual.[COLOR="darkred"]Thanks for the reference with Rockauto, I have never used them before. The local NAPA had a picture of the copper core, but had the aluminum core that I already tried.[/COLOR]Ford does go through spurts where they'll make a batch of new heater cores, they go out and get bought, and when that batch starts to dry up the price shoots upward. Quite a few times, people have mentioned not being able to buy the Ford part at all, as it's out of stock. Eventually (several times a year) they do get replenished though. Ford has generally been pretty good about keeping the heater cores produced...probably because they cross-reference with a Mustang (non-ATC cars). Quote from: daminc;377952I check Rockauto before I go anywhere....most of the new parts on my car are from there.[COLOR="darkred"]Thanks, will definitely give them a try next time![/COLOR] Quote from: EricCoolCats;377957I'd have to agree with that, Jerry, for the most part.But I would also like to add my observations...it does seem that the aluminum cores don't last as long, undoubtedly due to the electrolytic process associated with the coolant flow. In this respect, a copper core is probably a better choice. Getting a good quality copper core, that's the trick. If I were to need a core and didn't want to pay the Ford price, I'd probably head on over to some Mustang boards, or NATO, to see what they have added to the discussion. IIRC the NATO guys like the NAPA cores.[COLOR="darkred"]NATO prefers NAPA and FoMoCo, but Napa is now selling the same unit everyone else is. I will search the forums listed below.[/COLOR]Here's a quick link from LMRS:http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/Product/Search?q=heater%20core&vehicle=MustangSimilar from Fox Resto:http://www.foxresto.com/products/search/query:heater%20core/byYear:86Additionally, some observations from others have been posted on the infamous heater core page of my site:http://www.coolcats.net/help/heatercore.htmlTips from soldering a helper brace, to also replacing the blower motor while you're in there...just something to think about.FYI, the stock Ford core, copper, for a/c cars, manual (non-ATC), is p/n E9LY-18476-A.Quick search for that: http://www.rearcounter.com/E9LY18476A-parts111209.htmlThere was also a TSB from Ford years ago concerning the Turbo Coupes (IIRC, 1987-88 but could be older non-intercooled models as well). If a car kept killing heater cores at an abnormal rate, Ford's suggestion was to solder a piece of copper wiring onto the core housing, run it outside into the engine bay, and ground it to the block, to help slow down electrolysis. I'm thinking that may solve problems for anyone with abnormally failing cores...assuming the cores weren't POS's to begin with. ;)[COLOR="darkred"]This is the first time I have read anything about this, wonder if anyone on here has tried this before.[/COLOR] Quote from: 88cougarfan;377972I get all of my Motorcraft parts at Circle Distributing (online) http://www.cdiautoparts.com[COLOR="darkred"]Thanks, I hate paying the stealership for their overpriced parts.[/COLOR]Most of the time they have the original equipment parts at wholesale prices. I checked on the Cougar heater core and they didn't have the OEM Ford core but they did stock the AC Delco for $28.77. http://c2c.activant.com/ctoc/index.jsp?ID=fBS16GCw.CU5_Oy9_CUdEM2REUVFxS1UMSndRTAkBEQAA Quote from: thunderjet302;378022I have a local shop that is an independent Motorcraft dealer. When I bought my core I paid $60, but that was eight years ago.[COLOR="darkred"]You should have bought several for spares! lol[/COLOR] Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #23 – January 19, 2012, 10:59:31 AM I ended up finding an older copper core that had been sitting on the shelf at NAPA in the next town over. The NAPA salesman said it came from before the supplier switch. He went onto to say that NAPA didn't use to switch suppliers at all, but now they switch suppliers frequently.I put this photo together for future reference for myself and anyone else that it might help.http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/T-BirdX3/photobucket-5312-1326901522535-1.jpg Quote Selected
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