Where can we find brass and copper heater cores?

[In The Ten Ring]

According to GMC Paul's, the company that made brass and copper heater cores closed down. I don't want to use an aluminum one.

Is there another source anyone is aware of?

I'll post also in the parts forum.

[flashed]

Not at Summit ,it was pictured as brass and copper but when I got it it was aluminum .I called Summit and told them the add was misleading and they told me the pic was from the supplier.I may have an original out there from my truck but not sure.

[F.A.A.benny]

yea got to be careful wth the auto parts stores also. Some show copper on the computers but stock aluminum

[In The Ten Ring]

Ya, no kidding. Both NAPA and O'Reilly's are out (made of aluminum).

I may have to have one made custom if I can't find one elsewhere or get mine fixed. The radiator shop told me heater cores are harder to fix than radiators and they could not fix mine.

[special-K]

Sounds like junkyard city and hope for a good one

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by flashed

Not at Summit ,it was pictured as brass and copper but when I got it it was aluminum .I called Summit and told them the add was misleading and they told me the pic was from the supplier.I may have an original out there from my truck but not sure.

Sounds like my recent experience for a rear brake block......What they show appears brass, what they sell is something else, and that applies to all I located. I'm having a local brake shop build one instead.

[HeavyD]

Originals are superior in longevity??

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by HeavyD

Originals are superior in longevity??

That's what I'm wondering. I don't know why they would be. Granted original looks nicer until installed.

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

According to GMC Paul's, the company that made brass and copper heater cores closed down. I don't want to use an aluminum one.

Does anyone have one they'd part with? Is there another source anyone is aware of?

I'll post also in the parts forum.

Able Radiators, Milwaukie Oregon. I just had him build me one with an industrial core. It works good. I did have to supply him with the tanks from my old one and it was a Modine, which as far as I understand are hard to come by anymore. It was a little thin on the tubes.

The one I had built was total about 450 and better than anything I could buy aftermarket.

If you wish I will pass along his info if you can not locate it.

[vics stuff]

I would scout the E Bay site for heater cores or you may try US radiator out of vernon California (323) 826-0965
Vic

[F.A.A.benny]

Have to be careful with ebay also. You could get aluminum even though they advertise copper. My local radiator shop charges around $90 to make a new one with your tanks.

[vics stuff]

I happen to have a couple of good original heater cores for spares but could let one go.
Vic

[F.A.A.benny]

I honestly didn't think people would want to buy original cores. I have scrapped at least ten of them this yr

[vics stuff]

I have saved the end tanks before and recored my own. Sometimes the copper replacement ones do not even fit correctly.
Vic

Again I would look on E bay under 1972 Chevy NOS heater cores and ask seller questions on the phone.
Vic

[In The Ten Ring]

Toolboxchev, yes, I'd like to speak with that builder you hired.

Thanks for the number vics stuff, I'll try and call today.

From what I have read, aluminum isn't as good as brass and copper. It probably costs a lot less these days to make things from it, rather like how everything is made of plastic instead of metal.

I'll go pick up my old core today so as to have it.

[Ol Blue K20]

Here's something I'm wondering. If an aluminum radiator dissipates heat better than brass/copper. Then wouldn't an aluminum core transfer heat to the interior better? Food for thought.....

[vics stuff]

ol blue K20
You are correct in that theory but as mentioned for longevity the copper may last longer.
That is why you see aluminum radiators with either crimped plastic tanks or all welded ends.
Vic

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by vics stuff

ol blue K20
You are correct in that theory but as mentioned for longevity the copper may last longer.
That is why you see aluminum radiators with either crimped plastic tanks or all welded ends.
Vic

So it's the longevity that concerns people. I can understand that.

[indymachinist]

I dont. Personal preference here I guess but I would rather have a new factory made aluminum core than a partially new partially used assembled at a little rad shop core.


Who here really drives their trucks enough to worry about how long these cores are going to last anyways?

[Dirt's72]

I took my original one to a radiator shop to have repaired. They weren't able to so I replaced it with a really nice looking original out of my blazer. Two weeks later it leaked. So third time decided to go new and picked up what appeared to be a brass or copper one from orileys a couple months ago. It did not fit properly and I had to bend the bracket that holds it in place to get it to fit. I would recommend going with a new one. Especially on an ac set up.

[Custom/Ten]

I've got 2 cars outside running aluminum cores with over 20 years on them. My wife's went 18 years without a radiator fluid change lol. Just sayin.

[GRX]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Here's something I'm wondering. If an aluminum radiator dissipates heat better than brass/copper. Then wouldn't an aluminum core transfer heat to the interior better? Food for thought.....

Speaking as one who has studied metallurgy, here is some food ... aluminum dissipates heat faster once the heat source has been eliminated. Think of foil you just removed from the oven. Yet in an active state, as when the engine is running and hot coolant is flowing, copper will conduct heat from the coolant faster.

More food ... copper has roughly twice the thermal conductivity of aluminum. But brass has only about one forth the thermal conductivity of aluminum. Solder, which is an almalgum of softer metals, is much worse than that.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by Custom/Ten

I've got 2 cars outside running aluminum cores with over 20 years on them. My wife's went 18 years without a radiator fluid change lol. Just sayin.

I pulled the original ones out of my 68 during the build process. Looked fine, but changed it out with a new aluminum core both heater and radiator. Don't want to have to do it later. Most new cars go well over 100,000 miles without ever leaking a drop.

[summitflier]

Originally Posted by indymachinist

I dont. Personal preference here I guess but I would rather have a new factory made aluminum core than a partially new partially used assembled at a little rad shop core.

x2

Brass and copper do transfer heat more efficiently... to me that's the only advantage. Copper gets corroded and tarnished as easily as any other metal.

[In The Ten Ring]

It looks like the local shop can rebuild mine after all. I am having them look into it.