Heater core shot

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Sparky

Sparky

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So the fish is sick.Heater core is done,anti freeze leaking in below the glove box.#-o Question is, does anyone recommend the best one to buy and where. I am in Canada, BC to be exact. My wife works at Lordco so I will purchase from them. Any suggestions as which one I should purchase. I like to replace parts with the best I can seeing I get a good price.
68 340 -S. Any of you Canucks or anyone else have suggestions? Part Number? Are some better than others or pretty much all the same? Will order from the USA if there is something better out there.
Thanks
Spark.
 
I replaced my heater core for my 68 Barracuda a couple years ago(sorry no part#).I got it from NAPA.Hope this helps.
 
My neighbour bought a heater core from Lordco and it didn't fit right so he ordered one from another place for his Coronet. Something about the Lordco one being aluminium while the better fitting one was brass. I'll ask him tomorrow when I see him where/what he bought.

Btw, I think I recall you saying a while ago you're in the Kootenays; my grandmother bought my Scamp from City Auto. Small world.
 
go to canadian tire they are made by spectra premiun,,very good quality
 
The brand Lordco will carry is Spectra and it's made in China and is aluminium. When my neighbour compared it to his original heater core he removed, it wasn't an exact match. He sourced another brand through Summit that is brass and copper and was an exact fit but it appears Summit doesn't stock that brand anymore. The manufacturer name is Proliance Ready Rad (Vista Pro) and it's made in Mexico. I think the part number you will need for your Barracuda is PLI-399104.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/399104-Dart...ern-/360923704663?hash=item5408baad57&vxp=mtr

Stay away from the Chinese aluminium one!
 
Spectra is made in Quebec, not China.
I installed a Spectra one in my Dart Sport, it took a little modification to the heater box, not a big deal, but a PITA nonetheless.
It works great and it is just like the old one, not aluminum.
As a matter of fact, i installed one of their gas tanks and sending units and it went in with no problems at all and works perfectly.
I think the heater core tubes being off slightly was an unusual defect.
Check out my build thread for pictures and part numbers.
Where in B.C. are you from?
 
The one I got for the 68 Valiant was a Spectra. Brass, looks just like the original.
 
Dartnut said:
Spectra is made in Quebec, not China.
I installed a Spectra one in my Dart Sport, it took a little modification to the heater box, not a big deal, but a PITA nonetheless.
It works great and it is just like the old one, not aluminum.
As a matter of fact, i installed one of their gas tanks and sending units and it went in with no problems at all and works perfectly.
I think the heater core tubes being off slightly was an unusual defect.
Check out my build thread for pictures and part numbers.
Where in B.C. are you from?
Click to expand...

I had no idea Quebec was in China. They didn't teach me that in school. :)

I bought mine from 800-radiator for my 73 Dart Sport. It fit pretty well, just a minor bend of one of the tubes. It was brass, it was reasonable, and they had it to me in three days.
 
Dartnut said:
Spectra is made in Quebec, not China.
I installed a Spectra one in my Dart Sport, it took a little modification to the heater box, not a big deal, but a PITA nonetheless.
It works great and it is just like the old one, not aluminum.
As a matter of fact, i installed one of their gas tanks and sending units and it went in with no problems at all and works perfectly.
I think the heater core tubes being off slightly was an unusual defect.
Check out my build thread for pictures and part numbers.
Where in B.C. are you from?
Click to expand...

Same here "tubes off slightly"
Might not be an unusual defect. :D

I just heated the solder with a propane torch and moved the tube where it needed to be.
(1/2 inch maybe)
 
I bought one for my 65 Dart for ~$45 on rockauto. Spectra Premium, made in Canada, I recall. All copper. People say they are good. Since I will use Evans Waterless Coolant, it should last forever.
 
Just a quick update, the heater core I got from Lordco was a perfect fit, no tweaking required. Still running a little hotter than I like. Picked up a real temp gauge and will install it so I can see exactly where the number are.Don't think it is running quite a warm as the factory gauge is indicating. Do fan shrouds make a significant difference?
Thanks.
 
I'm not sure the shroud was standard addition to a 68 340 A-body. In most OEM builds a sufficient radiator was all they needed. Thus the 3 and 4 core radiators. A shroud was added to factory a/c builds. A shroud on a 26 inch wide radiator is of more benefit than the shroud on a 22 inch wide radiator. There isn't a lot of the smaller radiator core that isn't right in front of the fan.
 
Thanks. I need to get a proper temp gauge in there for sure. The water pump was new last year, heater core is new. I know the thermostat is working.That leaves the rad. It has been in the car for ,I think 10 years anyway.looks to be in great condition,clean from what I can see. I has not had to work hard driving few times a week if that and only in the summer.Think I will give it a good flushing. Could be the factory gauge, it was 3/4 when I pulled in the other day but when I popped the hood I did not get the sense or feeling that the motor was particularly warm,if that makes sense.
 
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