When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Here are a few pics of my new Spectra premium heater core for my 71 Cutlass Supreme. It came from Pep Boys on their ebay store. Looks like it's going back!
If you find a source, be sure to let me know. I tried to get one a couple of years ago and all that I found were aluminum ones that weren't built correctly. I ended up buying a good condition used copper/brass one from a local Olds Club member.
The problem with the aluminum heater cores is quality control. I bought two different ones earlier this year and both had the same issue: the tubes were not angled correctly so it looked as if they would not fit through the firewall, the 3/4" fitting was at the wrong angle so it would be nearly impossible to get the hose on, and the ends of the tubes were too close together to get the hoses on (and actually touching each other on one of the cores).
The catalog description for the heater cores in question said "copper/brass construction" but when they arrived they were aluminum. I called the tech line and was told they just recently moved manufacturing to China and switched to aluminum construction, yet there was a label on the box showing the core was manufactured in 2013 and it was clearly marked "Made in China".
That sucks. I got lucky when I went to OReileys for mine a while back, they got one from the warehouse here in N Texas. It had an inch of dust on the box but it was a copper and brass one.
Was it actually packaged that way??? Or was it shipping damage... Shipping damage I can sometimes tolerate... But to package that from a quality control stand point doesn't say a lot about the manufacturer/supplier... Doesn't help the retailer's reputation either...
Was it actually packaged that way??? Or was it shipping damage... Shipping damage I can sometimes tolerate... But to package that from a quality control stand point doesn't say a lot about the manufacturer/supplier... Doesn't help the retailer's reputation either...
It was in a box then in the shipping box as well. The packaging was perfect. No quality control at all.
Have a look at this link from Ground Up Restorations (Chevelle application). I believe the cores are the same for BOPC. Their picture shows it to be a brass/copper construction but I'd check first to see if it will fit your car, and if it really is made the way you want it.
I would be extremely shocked if someone was making new copper/brass anything any more. It's just not cost effective as the price of copper makes using it unrealistic when aluminum pieces are readily available and MUCH cheaper.
Thanks for the link Allan. Randy, I took a chance on one and will let you know
if it's good to go. On the order form I let them know "If this is NOT of brass/copper
construction, I don't want it."
Thanks for the link Allan. Randy, I took a chance on one and will let you know
if it's good to go. On the order form I let them know "If this is NOT of brass/copper
construction, I don't want it."
You're welcome,
Smart move on your part to add that to the order. I'm curious what you will get, but I'm hoping Randy is wrong about the construction. If it is brass/copper I might have to look ar one for my car.
Good luck with that. The catalog description for the ones I purchased said "copper brass" and the pictures showed the same thing, but I received aluminum parts.
I worked for a radiator company about 20 years ago and they made all of their own cores and tanks in house. That was before the meteoric rise in the cost of copper and they still had plenty of those offerings to choose from.
After copper went through the roof it just wasn't worth it to make more and what inventory was left was it. When it sold out everything went over to aluminum....like it or not.
It was in a box then in the shipping box as well. The packaging was perfect. No quality control at all.
Doubt this...
For those that never worked in auto parts.. There is a huge issue.. and it is people returning damaged parts.. parts they damaged. either by trying to force the incorrect part into the wrong vehicle..
Or in this case using the box as a step stool.. either by the shop or the warehouse.. As that is what that one looks like happened..
Shops are bad at this.. and if the vendor doesn't check every return.. you get stuff sent out like this..
We had to check ever box as the running scam with one account was they order moog from us and the house brand from autozone and put the autozone part in the moog box and return it..
Thanks for the link Allan. Randy, I took a chance on one and will let you know if it's good to go. On the order form I let them know "If this is NOT of brass/copper construction, I don't want it."
Doubt this...
For those that never worked in auto parts.. There is a huge issue.. and it is people returning damaged parts.. parts they damaged. either by trying to force the incorrect part into the wrong vehicle..
Or in this case using the box as a step stool.. either by the shop or the warehouse.. As that is what that one looks like happened..
Not sure why you would doubt the quality control issue since the original packaging showed no evidence of damage or "being used as a step stool"... Even if damaged and returned, someone should have verified exactly what was returned and the quality of the item before repackaging to resell to another customer... JMO, but this goes back to quality control either from the factory or the retailer...
Thanks again Allan. 
