1961 S88 Starfire Heater Valve

bjtstarfire · November 12th, 2007, 06:06 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

59-59-59 · November 23rd, 2007, 02:19 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) · November 23rd, 2007, 04:11 PM

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

Starfire61 · November 23rd, 2007, 07:38 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 · November 24th, 2007, 04:37 AM

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

59-59-59 · November 30th, 2007, 01:30 AM

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

November 12th, 2007, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
bjtstarfire Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Philadelphia, PA area Posts: 105	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

November 23rd, 2007, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
J-(Chicago) Seasoned beater pilot. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,696	Good call 595959. That's what I would have done. __________________ I'd rather have a numbers matching poker hand.

November 24th, 2007, 04:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
bjtstarfire Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Philadelphia, PA area Posts: 105	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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November 23rd, 2007, 02:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
59-59-59 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 307	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

November 23rd, 2007, 07:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
Starfire61 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 76	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.

November 30th, 2007, 01:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
59-59-59 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 307	I really have to question ANYTHING with a diaphram that is 40+ years old - NOS or not. Good luck