Where are you buying your heater cores at? January 16, 2012, 09:12:20 PM Where is everyone buying their heater cores at?Ford wants $160 for one....The one from AZ doesn't fit, the tubes are spaced too far apart and even if you bend it over, it still rubs the firewall. I can't imagine aluminum lasting long rubbing against steel.The one from Advanced is a about an inch too short (see picture below).In the picture is three heater cores. The center core is the factory core, the left core is the short core from Advanced, and the one on the right is from AZ and its tubes are too far apart to fit through the firewall hole.http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee367/T-BirdX3/photobucket-32509-1326765083117.jpg Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #1 – January 16, 2012, 10:16:17 PM I have a therory that the aluminum ones go bad quicker then the copper/brass ones. Their tubes are also smaller, and probably clogg easier.The atc(automatic tempeture control) and mtc are different, as are the cores for certain years. Every aluminum autozone I have used went bad in about a year. I also never ran a restrictor or ran a copper/brass one for more then a year. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #2 – January 16, 2012, 10:23:17 PM Dont buy one from Advance or Autozone. I got one from Advance and it went bad in less than a month. I ordered an aluminum core that after one year is doing ok. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #3 – January 16, 2012, 10:23:23 PM I bought one at CAP. I don't have the slip here at my apart., but It fit without a problem. The short one will probably be okay. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #4 – January 16, 2012, 10:27:51 PM Quote from: jpc647;377891I bought one at CAP. I don't have the slip here at my apart., but It fit without a problem. The short one will probably be okay. Did you say apartment like you moved? Who's watching the Olds? Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #5 – January 16, 2012, 10:32:06 PM If they are slightly too small, it should come with a foam seal to go around it, and there is a large rubber one.Specter is the only maker for all of the aftermarket ones, so buy it where it is cheapest. Every aftermarket one I have seen is just re-branded.Use a restrictor. I never have, but I used my heater extensively in winter, and never during summer. I have also only gotten the aluminum one. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #6 – January 17, 2012, 12:12:30 AM Motorcraft and use a restrictor. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #7 – January 17, 2012, 09:15:09 AM Quote from: Bruce M;377890Dont buy one from Advance or Autozone. I got one from Advance and it went bad in less than a month. I ordered an aluminum core that after one year is doing ok.The ones that come from Advanced and AZ are aluminum... The one that you ordered where did you order it from? Quote from: Haystack;377895If they are slightly too small, it should come with a foam seal to go around it, and there is a large rubber one.Specter is the only maker for all of the aftermarket ones, so buy it where it is cheapest. Every aftermarket one I have seen is just re-branded.Use a restrictor. I never have, but I used my heater extensively in winter, and never during summer. I have also only gotten the aluminum one. If you look closely at the picture you will notice that the aluminum cores are completely different. The one is almost an inch to short, which means that the core will be supported by the tubes instead of the end tanks. Quote from: thunderjet302;377907Motorcraft and use a restrictor.Where 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! Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #8 – January 17, 2012, 11:04:40 AM The one I put in about 5 or so years ago came from O'Reilly auto. At the time I had serious misgivings about it because I was afraid it wouldn't last. But so far it seems to be doing fine. And from what I remember it was identical to the original, but my memory isn't totally reliable for something that long ago. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #9 – January 17, 2012, 12:37:55 PM Quote from: T-BirdX3;377920The ones that come from Advanced and AZ are aluminum... The one that you ordered where did you order it from? If you look closely at the picture you will notice that the aluminum cores are completely different. The one is almost an inch to short, which means that the core will be supported by the tubes instead of the end tanks. Where 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!The 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. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #10 – January 17, 2012, 02:17:27 PM I put a Advance Auto heater core in my car in 2005 and had no issues at all with fitment. So far no leaks or other problems. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #11 – January 17, 2012, 03:33:34 PM I have also received both aluminium and brass/copper cores from orileys, autozone and napa. I've done about 8 of these, all of the aluminim ones went out right near a year and all the brass ones were wrecked or junked before the end of the year. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #12 – January 17, 2012, 03:54:40 PM A 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.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 Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #13 – January 17, 2012, 07:00:45 PM I check Rockauto before I go anywhere....most of the new parts on my car are from there. Quote Selected
Where are you buying your heater cores at? Reply #14 – January 17, 2012, 07:29:40 PM I ordered it from a local mom and pop store. I cant remember the brand. Quote Selected
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