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In Search of the "Perfect" $50 Heater Core...
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Uncle Andy
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 11:28 am    Post subject: In Search of the "Perfect" $50 Heater Core... Reply with quote

I have to take the dash apart in my '84 to replace a bad heater fan and a defunct brake master cylinder.

$50 Heater Core Thread on TheSamba

I have read this thread with interest, and it got me to thinking about heater cores. I have found one that is longer, the only problem with it being that a person would have to cut a new hole or two in the side of the housing to let the ends of the pipe stick out and accept the hose:

$33 Heater Core

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Opinions on this anyone? My "aces in the hole" are the Probe or '75 Granada core. Just trying to find a bit more elegant solution that is not $275.

I simply do not have $275 to spend on a part that should cost $50. All (or at least most) other cars have a $50 heater core. The technology is no different on this one.

Opinions welcome!
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dhaavers
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 2:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go for it! I'll be right behind you...(probably)

Curious how to deal with the angled tubes: just cut 'em off straight, pro'lly?

Post pics when you can?

plz?
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Terry Kay
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a quiz question;

You have chosen to drive / own a VW.

Please name one german automobile that has a 50 buck heater core in it.

I know VW doesn't.
Audi?
Benz?
BMW?

I just can't put my finger on any german ride that uses or has inexpensive parts.

You sure ain't driving no Chevy.

Ah ha---

You want a GM replacement price structure in a Volkswagon.

Ain't gonna happen here in the real world.
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?Waldo?
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 8:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting that the $33 one is an Audi Quatro heater core.

Please post more pics if you take the plunge.
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BlackDogVan
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Laughing
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syncrodoka
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 10:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

well TK, you asked for it and there it is. Shocked
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ALIKA T3
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 11:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Terry Kay:
Why give such unconstructive answer to somebody who is trying to make finding parts cheaper a public post on the samba...??what's the point to be mean?

If all the negative panties were so mean,we would still stick with original parts.
I'm a big fan of adapting stuff in the vanagon to make it better,and if possible cheaper.
you guys in the Usa have difficulties with a way more lot of parts than we do in Europe.
I have to get surgery in a few hours,I'll come back later with an answer to your heater part.A guy in france has replaced by a used cheap one,very common.I have to take time to find the post.
That pisses me off to be so negative again,I say it!!

Anybody found me on internet how to swap a toyota engine in a vanagon...thanks to my injury,I'm making a big post for it,with kits and shit.Why I found it?because I've heard it's popular in SA,but no information available at all.If I was so not so determined,I would stick with other peoples idea.
Did you know that there is a big caliper that mounts right on the vanagon spindle,with 4 pistons? same bolt pattern??sure not,because if I had never talked about it,we would stay the 3 of us friends with it,like a big secret.

Take some time to find solutions to that heater core instead of wasting electricity and energy to get your computer ON and giving us useless comments.

Fiouuuuuu,I feel better.....

goodnight!
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There must be way more demand for Vanagon heater cores than Audi ones from the same era. Why are Audi cores available and Vanagon cores are not?
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Vanagonner
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 4:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have had my Ford heater core in for a year now, it still works fine. *edit* it warms the van just fine, doesn't smell and doesn't leak. *edit*
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dhaavers
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 6:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, Vanagonner!

I'll be on this when I pull my dash for the blower motor & I'll share my plan to replace the bad ceramic resistor with a $12 Jeep part.

Oh, and here's another plan of mine: [ignore] TK [/ignore]

Sorry, I'm a realist...I run a functional van on a budget, not a museum piece.
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Vanagonner
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 6:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are welcome, dhaavers. would enjoy hearing about the resister mod as well. I moved mine outside of the box just in case.
.
Uncle Andy, your Audi core looks great, very interested to see if it works! I probably would have gone with that one if I had found it.
.
*edit*
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Last edited by Vanagonner on Fri Oct 29, 2010 1:43 pm; edited 2 times in total
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J Charlton Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 6:31 am    Post subject: tone Reply with quote

It diminishes everyone of us who use this forum when anyone of us takes a "holier than thou" self righteous attitude towards the innovative efforts on anyone in terms of maintaining and keeping these vehicles on the road. Everyone has their own circumstances to deal with, including budget, ability, knowledge base, willingness to innovate and the enjoyment thereof etc etc etc. Those among us who have developed alternatives to simple "plug and play" replacements for whatever reason - be they cost or greater efficacy (eg. the jumper cable plug ins that T.K. makes and markets are terrific) are to be celebrated, not denigrated - no matter what the motivation for doing so may be.
I'm sure that someone out there will probably read this and discount it as just another example of "Polital Correctness" (PC). Far from that - this forum exists for the purpose of communication - comments written with disregard to the sensibilities of those who might read them discourage communication. I would suggest that as this is a forum that exists to share and support each other that before one posts he or she think carefully about what they are about to post - if it doesn't meet the criteria of asking for technical advice, responding in a helpful supportive manner or sharing a learning experience - that they seriously reconsider posting it at all. And - don't give me any B.S. about "if I don't like it I don't have to read it..." the fact is that by the time i know if I like it or not, I've already read it. The onus is on all of us to be self responsible and to self monitor and self censor our own communications.
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the caveman
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 7:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My 2 cents- I replaced mine with the 275 dollar one that just came out, bought from OE Veedub i think. It doesn't produce [dissipate ?] as much heat as the OEM one. Something to consider if you are in a cold climate and need all the btu's you can get. I have an ebersbacher aux heater ,so i don't really care, but...
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Antron
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nothing wrong with a cheaper fix... Unless you are talking about drilling a hole in the front of your van to lube your heater fan bearings.

Oh wait ! I forgot I did that exact thing and it has been fine for about a year or so I guess I am a fool for not tearing out my dash to get to the bearing.



Bob
87 syncro with a quiet fan thanks to that hole
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peasant
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Has anyone tried this heater core or done any other ingenious alternatives?

Albeit a cunning fix I would prefer a more full size heater core than the ford one on the other thread.


Thanks
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MarkWard
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

vanagonjetta wrote:
Has anyone tried this heater core or done any other ingenious alternatives?
Thanks


I don't know that is is ingenious, but is hopefully a nice upgrade when done. It is a modern AC/Defrost/Heater core housing from Vintage Air.

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r39o
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

vanagonjetta wrote:
Albeit a cunning fix I would prefer a more full size heater core than the ford one on the other thread.

How about the $33 dollar one shown in the thread starter post?

$33 Heater Core
.
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peasant
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

rsxsr That is a nice looking unit, are you doing all your own ducts.



Quote:

How about the $33 dollar one shown in the thread starter post?



was asking for feedback about it, I wonder if uncle andy or someone else has tried it. Smile
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MarkWard
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 12:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I will be reusing the stock dash side vents and two similar vents will be fitted into the radio slot. The kit came with generic defroster vents that I believe I have figured out how to adapt to the dashboard. For the radio, I am going with a secretaudio solution. Most likely it will end up installed under the driver's seat. I was hesitant to make this change. I try to preserve as much of the original as I can, not for me, but the next owner if that should happen. Truth is not much is original anymore. I will hold onto the factory parts unless someone needs them, but between the availablity/cost of front heater cores and the trouble of changing a blower motor add to that a modern dash AC and I am ok with what I have done. Yes, the freshair inlet has been closed with an aluminum plate and weatherstrip incase in needs to be undone. I am sure we will be ok without the factory fresh air system. Blake Heinlein deserves the credit of figuring this all out. mark
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thummmper
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 29, 2010 1:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It seems that we are all afraid of the dash. and for good reason. this is definitely a momentum issue. [everything is]
its not easy peeling back dashboards at the jy for the sake of research.
then again, I'm sure there is a radiator shop catalogue that would shed tons of light on this subject.
heater cores are like getting old. we are all going there.
terry--you are an innovator and master problem solver--but dude--
its a vw--the peoples car--they were constantly limited by budget.
I would love to buy your forever core replacement, but Im swimming in the big blue with mercedes rears and halfshaft adapters and electronics.
the vw was supposed to be cheap. demand ruined that. economy car
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