Rear heater core leak -OMG! Something to fix!!

[cmayna]

So there I was driving down the road feeling a little cold so I reached over to turn the heater fan on. Moments later....whew! what a smell that is. Very coolantly like.

Unknown to my last living brain cell, I had turned on the rear heater fan, which one of the very few times it's been on since we've owned the rig. Quickly turned it off and turned on the front fan. Ahhhhhhh, mucho better.

So yesterday I decided to rip into the rear heater box. Found that I've had the coolant flow lever in off position. Got a flashlight, shining it into the heater grill only to find a bunch of very old looking coolant dust. So yes, some time during it's life this rear heater core leaked big time.

Now I need to decide if I simply remove the heater all together to gain a little more storage space or replace the core and never use it but allowing the new core to leak if someone accidently flips the coolant flow lever forward.

Heck, at least I have something to tinker with during the holidays. Any thoughts? Figured that if I remove the heater, I'll keep everything boxed up just in case I ever consider using it. The Go Westy $10 heater delete kit looks pretty easy and cheap. Or is their premium heater core that premium and will never leak. Hah! New heater core $92. New coolant flow core valve: $45.

Just asked the wife what shall I do. She said "keep it stock honey. Replace the core. What if I get cold one wintery nite, while we're driving down the coast?"
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[jlrftype7]

I vote to keep it... Warm wives are happier than freezing ones....
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[Dana Champion]

I had the same situation several years ago.

Having had aircooled busses for years, the thought of blocking it off was NOT even a thought! Love that heat when you want it.

Merry Christmas !