55.2-59 1959 recirculating heater core - any retrofit options?

[nikwho]

Hello all,
Well, now that I'm wrapping up my transmission swap and have scratched about everything else off of my list to get my '59 to daily driver status, it's cold out! I've got a recirculating non-deluxe heater in my '59 Apache. I honestly haven't tried pressurizing my heater core as of yet, but expecting the worse, as this truck sat for at least the past 25-30 years with the heater core not plumbed. Assuming it leaks. I will probably pull it, see what needs attention with the blower motor and switch, then drop my heater core off at the local radiator shop, to see if they can test and/or repair it, as needed. But, before I go in there, I wanted to see if anyone had found a good retro fit heater core for this application? There are so many different heater cores out there, I figured that something, from some other car would probably fit right into place of this heater core, with the fittings routed in the correct place. If there is a super easy swap, where I'd be able to keep my otherwise original heater, I'd like to know about it and know that cost, when considering whatever price I'm given by the local radiator shop. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Nik

[MD2020]

I have the one out of my 56 if you need it

[mikebte]

I removed my deluxe heater and installed a universal heater when I was to cheap to fix it. Wish I had kept the deluxe. I would go to a radiator shop and see if they can build you one or find a good used. I had no luck in finding a good replacement for my deluxe heater. Wish you better luck in finding parts.

I'll see about getting a picture of the heater I was running later on tonight.

[whitedog76]

I used to have a 4 seasons catalog that had dimensions years ago. Can't seem to find it.

Anyhow, check out these links. They're mostly for commercial trucks, it may help.

https://atc.ca/pdf/atc/HeaterCores.pdf


https://us.bergstrominc.com/images/K...ater_Cores.pdf

[mikebte]

Hereally is the aftermarket heater I ran for 10 years. You could remove the core if needed or run something similar.

[Fitz57]

Brass works. Looks like $299 for the one you want. I have the round one for my 57. Very nice unit. Picture of the on you might have.

[mr48chev]

That should be a square/rectangular core rather than the round one. That makes it simpler but you still have to have a radiator shop willing to deal with replacing the core or modifying one to fit. or pay the premium for one from one of the specialty truck trinket houses.

I am not finding one while doing a search through the truck trinket shops.

[dsraven]

has anyone looked through the red dot online catalgue? maybe something in there?

[mr48chev]

I've seen a couple of threads on the net where guys modified the surround for the core to put an inexpensive and easier to find core in.

[nikwho]

I'd love to find another core, from a different vehicle that I could swap in place of my core! I had hooked mine up and it worked for a few months. Then blew a hole through the core and pumped a bunch of coolant into my cab. So now I have bypassed it. Its cold again, so this came up again. I have the rectangular recirculating heater. My core came with one 5/8" tube and one 3/4" tube (for heater valve). If I find a similar sized core that will fit, with both tubes 5/8", 8 can just run the earlier 5/8" valve. Gonna pull the heater core this week and take it to the local radiator shop, but they declined to work on another radiator that I had taken to them, and advised me to just buy a new radiator. So, will be interesting to see if they will even mess with it.

Nik

[mr48chev]

Radiator shops don't seem to want to do the small jobs anymore probably because they can stay busy working on heavy truck and equipment radiators.

The Filling station wants 179.50 to recore a deluxe heater core for F with a three to four week turn around time.

The Vintage Air compact heater all new is 179.99 from Speedway right now. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Vinta...er,274649.html

The slightly larger one is 240 from Amazon including shipping. https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Air-5.../dp/B002VVY9L2
That is on backorder though Speedway so I'd check on actual delivery time. It doesn't seem right that you can buy a complete new name brand heater with defrost for the same as you can get an old heater core redone though.

[mr48chev]

Some guys have searched though the heater core catalogs and found one that was close enough that they could modify the heater and have it work.

Here is one example of one of those pages https://atc.ca/wp-content/uploads/HeaterCores_2017.pdf

Here is a similar one from another company http://www.meicorporation.com/pdfs/HeaterCores09.pdf

[dsraven]

Check out the red dot catalogue. Maybe you can find something that fits or can be made to fit.

[G&R's57GMC]

Summit has a hot rod heater for a reasonable price