'63 deluxe heat, core repair

[astrochimp]

After giving up hope on repairing the temp valve bolted to my heater, I ordered a new core that was supposed to fit 60-66 with deluxe heat. They are the same size but the pipes are in a different location, and would require lots of hacking to the heater box.







I then removed the valve from the original heater core and brazed a piece of copper in its place. The pipe is brass so you need to clean well and be able to braze or solider the two together.













Finally heat! Installed it last weekend and it is working good, have a couple of hundred miles on it so far.

The copper is difficult to braze in place, and the heat could ruin the joint from the pipe to the plate- use a radiator shop if you haven't brazed copper for fun and profit.

David

['63GENIII]

I had the same problem with mine. I did take it to a radiator shop though ( as I am afraid to braze a brand new core for fun, profit, love or money! he, he). The heaters in these trucks work great. Mine is better than the '00 Silverado that I drive for work. Great work on yours!

[dracko]

The heaters in these trucks work great.

I second that! Was -35C here a few times last winter and the cab was nice and warm. Put a new core and blower in last week and its even better.

['63GENIII]

Just wish the 396 would warm up as fast as the '00. Oh well, you can't have it all...right?

[astrochimp]

My heat isn't great, but I have a leaky cab (door seals gone) and no carpet. Also engine runs cool even in summer. I have a 195 t stat, and added an electric fan to help.

It did keep it warm on a mid 20 deg night at 60 mph for an hour.

I wish someone made a new 63 core and valve!

[jbgroby]

So what you did was remove the thermatic valve (I found out thats whats it called) and simply run it direct? Did you put in a vavle under the hood, How do you shut it off?

[raycow]

That's basically the setup I have, with a manual valve on the engine. However, I have seen universal cable-actuated valves with pipe thread on one side. You could probably operate one of those from the stock heater control by using a longer cable.

Ray