1961 S88 Starfire Heater Valve

bjtstarfire · 11-12-2007, 05:06 PM

Any advice on trying to rebuild a 394 V8's heater control valve on a Starfire? Can it be done? (unit has two bolts on a plate that is on the rear of the engine right hand side / pass side).

USAPARTSSUPPLY wants over 170.00 dollars for one + 100.00 for the core which you get back if they can use your core, That is very costly. Someone musts have an idea for repair or cross ref to a new unit.

I searched all the classicolds threads and googled heater + valve looking for info but nothing good yet...

Help

Oldsfan · 11-13-2007, 05:28 AM

$170 does seem expensive, but if you need one, you need one. I paid less than that for a NOS one a few years ago, but it didn't last long. I'd have preferred to pay $170 as opposed to overheating the motor on I-90 in the middle of no-where. I do not know of any rebuilding services, but obviously they can be rebuilt, as they want your core. I should sell them the core from my NOS one that went bad. I see ads, I guess in Hemmings, for places that rebuild RANCO valves for the earlier Oldses. Maybe you should check with them.

Paul

59-59-59 · 11-23-2007, 01:19 PM

I had the same problem..I didnt want to spend big bucks and didnt care about originality. This is what i did - I bought a brand new unit from NAPA (from a mid- 80's GM I think ) and bought a brass adaptor and screwed it in. Thats it. This was years ago, but I think this cost me under 30 bucks. These things are getting impossible to find and USA parts supply is a ripoff. Good luck

J-(Chicago) · 11-23-2007, 03:11 PM

Good call 595959.
That's what I would have done.

Starfire61 · 11-23-2007, 06:38 PM

If you have your heart set on an original valve, you can find NOS valves on Ebay periodically. Typically they run around $50 to $100 depending on how feverish the bidding gets. I've scored about four of 'em that way. I'd imagine USA Parts has a lot of lonely valves sitting on a shelf with a price of $170.... I'd never pay that much.

bjtstarfire · 11-24-2007, 03:37 AM

Thank all. I did something similar to what 595959 stated. Works fine, hot air for the winter driving is nice.

59-59-59 · 11-30-2007, 12:30 AM

I really have to question ANYTHING with a diaphram that is 40+ years old - NOS or not. Good luck

11-12-2007, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
bjtstarfire Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Philadelphia, PA area Posts: 64	1961 S88 Starfire Heater Valve Any advice on trying to rebuild a 394 V8's heater control valve on a Starfire? Can it be done? (unit has two bolts on a plate that is on the rear of the engine right hand side / pass side). USAPARTSSUPPLY wants over 170.00 dollars for one + 100.00 for the core which you get back if they can use your core, That is very costly. Someone musts have an idea for repair or cross ref to a new unit. I searched all the classicolds threads and googled heater + valve looking for info but nothing good yet... Help __________________ Ben '61 Starfire

11-13-2007, 05:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 427	$170 does seem expensive, but if you need one, you need one. I paid less than that for a NOS one a few years ago, but it didn't last long. I'd have preferred to pay $170 as opposed to overheating the motor on I-90 in the middle of no-where. I do not know of any rebuilding services, but obviously they can be rebuilt, as they want your core. I should sell them the core from my NOS one that went bad. I see ads, I guess in Hemmings, for places that rebuild RANCO valves for the earlier Oldses. Maybe you should check with them. Paul __________________ There's "Something Extra" about owning an OLDS! -- Visit the "Something Extra" website at: http://home.comcast.net/~oldsfan/MySite/62oldspage.html

11-23-2007, 03:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
J-(Chicago) Seasoned beater pilot. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,394	Good call 595959. That's what I would have done. __________________ I'd rather have a numbers matching poker hand.

11-24-2007, 03:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
bjtstarfire Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Philadelphia, PA area Posts: 64	Thank all. I did something similar to what 595959 stated. Works fine, hot air for the winter driving is nice. __________________ Ben '61 Starfire

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11-23-2007, 01:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
59-59-59 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 115	I had the same problem..I didnt want to spend big bucks and didnt care about originality. This is what i did - I bought a brand new unit from NAPA (from a mid- 80's GM I think ) and bought a brass adaptor and screwed it in. Thats it. This was years ago, but I think this cost me under 30 bucks. These things are getting impossible to find and USA parts supply is a ripoff. Good luck

11-23-2007, 06:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
Starfire61 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 59	If you have your heart set on an original valve, you can find NOS valves on Ebay periodically. Typically they run around $50 to $100 depending on how feverish the bidding gets. I've scored about four of 'em that way. I'd imagine USA Parts has a lot of lonely valves sitting on a shelf with a price of $170.... I'd never pay that much.

11-30-2007, 12:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
59-59-59 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 115	I really have to question ANYTHING with a diaphram that is 40+ years old - NOS or not. Good luck

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