65-67 Heater Core

I took my heater box apart expecting to find that a line was maybe coming out of the endcap or had a hairline crack to explain a leak... I found the core mashed pretty good on one end, and one line looking a little kinky... no quick fix, I guess.

1) demondog, I don't suppose you have one out there...
2) next possibility is that a rad shop could cut down my 61-64 core (end caps look like they are the same size as 65-67 end caps, but core is a few inches wider) to recore my heater core
3) maybe y'all can recommend a vendor

Thanks,

Looks like the second one Donivan! Yeah, the regulator valve is under the floor probably about a foot back by the wheel well. Just needing the core, not the regulator.

Definitely need a regulator up here... our temperatures range from +40C (100F) in summer to -40C (-10F) in winter or worse!

Holy cow! I came up with nothing when I Googled! I don't know how you did it! Spectra's a good name! Great price!

I just talked to DemonDog... he's got a heater box that I can try out! So maybe progress will happen today!

I do have the complete heater box from Demondog's donor! Awesome! Thanx!

Here's the damage on the core I pulled from my heater box:

bashed fins


kinked inlet


See here, the 65 core next to a 63 core: I think a rad shop could cut down the wider 63 core to take the 65 cap... So I think I will look into getting the old core repaired and ready for another project... like yours demondog!


In the meantime, while I have engine work proceeding, my copper elbow "heater" replacement.

Didn't measure, but if the core itself is 6"X6", there is a groove on the box that should hold the core stable in there, along with maybe 1" foam cushioning all the edges... it's a pretty tight fit.

The way the pipes exit the core through the box line up with the openings in the floor for the hoses... straight path without kinks in the hoses... I can't imagine any other alignment. Even with the 61-64 cores, the pipes go straight through the floor, and the hoses clamp underneath, instead of in the cab like 65-67. Maybe the simpler answer is "Yes, unless you want to modify the heater box and floor."

I would say the dimensions you posted are likely right on (6"X6"X2"). I would have to remove the core from the other heater box to compare or measure for sure. Eyeballing the endcaps, except for how the tubes exit the 61-64 and 65-67, they are the same. Only difference is the width of the cores. I'm sorry... it was a little chilly when I took the pics last night, and didn't have a tape measure handy. I will try to measure both but that won't be until tomorrow night when I get back out to the garage.

BTW, 6 X 6 X 2 is the size for the 65-67 core. 61-64 was 6 X 8 X 2.

Just got off the phone with a local rad shop... they said it's not feasible to cut down the other core to the size to fit the 65, as the ends of the cores are finished using a technique called "face dipping", and using sleeves to keep everything lined up... it would be way expensive to fix it that way.

The good news is that (even in Saskatoon), 6X6 cores are not uncommon, and quoted a recore in the $85 range.

So any of you folks with heater issues, don't just toss your cores. They are likely repairable at an affordable rate if you can't find a spare.

Just for kicks, I'm restoring the heater box (and a few other pieces from the green 65 Ford SuperVan and pink 63 Merc panel). It's gotten so cold up here lately, and progress is slow. With the heater box, it is a plastic with metal shrouding on the back and inlet.

1) Blower motor removed by four screws in front. Box removal by 6 screws behind the passenger light trim.
2) Resistor removal by two screws. Rear metal panel removal by screws, heater core lifts out.
3) Inlet / vent removal by screws (there are a couple only accessible from inside the heater box.
4) Rear panel w/levers and air deflectors by a snap clip on the front side holding the defrost lever and the rear side by rivets ground off. Levers/deflectors then twist out.

My plastic housing looks ratty, lots of rust on all metal surfaces, foam surface covering deflectors all rotted.

5) Cleaned all surfaces with nylon brush in drill, some sandblasting.

I will post some pics in a couple days with the progress to this point. I am planning to prepare some other components so I can paint them all at once, so I'm not going to be at the finishing stage for a bit.

Next steps:

6) Rattle can etch prime on metal, Duplicolor flat black primer and universal gloss black to finish all. Repair sealing surfaces on deflectors. Silicone seal mating surfaces. Replace foam to surround heater core. Replace rivets with machine screws / lock washers / nuts.

I've used the cores from Auto Zone and they fit perfect.
Fred

Pics!!! I think I found a neat (and free) solution to sealing up the heater box... the thin foam sheet that is often wrapped around items like new TVs and computer monitors, DVD players... as I got it cut to size for my mating and sealing surfaces, I sprayed a little adhesive, layed it down and trimmed it out!





The look of the refurbished heater box, and the donor that sacrificed it's heater core! What a difference!



Now, I've been told I should have been more careful about refurbishing this in the house, due to the dangers of breathing in or igniting fumes. So I will pass the same caution on. Most of my effort was in cleaning, blasting and sanding off corrosion in preparation for the etch primer, black primer and gloss black paint. My garage is not heated, and winter has been cold and snowy, so it was either accomplish nothing and go crazy, or try to be as careful as possible to get some stuff done. Anyway, this heater box is almost ready to be reinstalled in the green van. Mostly what's holding me up is completing the repair on my wipers (ratched sheet metal where the wiper sticks through the body under the glass)... gotta get that done now!

Cheers!

Looks good there Corey. That is a good idea about the foam. As long as there is not too much heat from the heater that will cause it to shrink or melt. That maybe the areas close to the heater core, areas away from the core will be cooler.
Your work is oming along.

It's in the van, no leaks, blows strong and hot... I am very happy about the results.

That's good for what our winter temps get up to here.