Fitting issues with aftermarket Heater Core for 89-94
I recently purchased an aftermarket heater core off Ebay. The end caps and inlet/outlet pipes are copper not plastic. Outside of this, the unit is exactly the same in dimensions, etc.
The issue that i have is that the aftermarket heater cores top inlet valve has an elbow in it in its connection to the core. The original heater core is joined on the straight.
Whilst the end result is the same, the elbow design doesn't allow a snug fit into the heater housing... instead the elbow knocks on an internal 'housing wall'.
Has anyone installed this heater core in their cars and have they made modifications to make it fit?
pic below shows orginal on top of new. Note the elbow on the bottom unit.
Indeed forwarned is... maybe I'll leave it to the next owner... Mine just expired today. - Not internally, (am thankful for tiny mercies) but in the engine - room where the aluminium pipes come through the firewall... Lets just say the pipes don't poke through as far as they originally did
It started this arvo, steam pouring out from the bonnet within seconds of firing up... coolant leaking from a heater-tap (previous owner's bodgy) onto the exhaust manifold. I was amazed at how quick the metal exceeded 100 degrees...
So the tap was history anyway, but as I pulled the hose off ....the other end parted company with what was left of the heater pipe.
And I did'nt even say naughty words
As one looks elsewhere under such circumstances, the top of the bottom radiator hose looks a bit more suss than last time I looked.. Fortunately we have a new hose lurking in the boot. Two 5/8" end caps ($5.98 at SC) will fix the heater during the summer, and maybe some nice RRC enthusiast will make me an offer before winter...
Some pics. The LH pipe corresponds to the LH image, which is the driver's side (OZ and UK) and this is the one that was hanging on by corrosion only, whilst the RH side pipe had obviously been eroding away...and Bodgy-Bros had installed a second hose clamp to slow the dripping. This is 'why' the hose end looks funny
Question for the Wiser Wuns... How big a job is it to replace the lower hose, bearing in mind that there's a chance the water pump may be corroded beyond repair/bodgy... Do I need to take out the radiator to access things?
What on earth did they use in there? sea water?
BTW, not that it would make any difference to you but I always slice the hoses off the heater pipes, to make sure of no stress.
Fitting issues with aftermarket Heater Core for 89-94
I do not know how the core is oriented in the heater box, but my 92RRC has plastic tubes sticking at right angles out of the firewall, hence my comment to cut off the hoses rather than pull them off.
89-93 are hard dash, and are probably like mine.
Without knowing how the cores are fitted, it doesn't look like a RRC 89 on core to me.
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Fitting issues with aftermarket Heater Core for 89-94
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