40 Heater recore??
 

I had my 40 heater headed toward a resurrection until I found a miniscule leak in the center of the core.:(

Radiator guys x2 says it can't be fixed, but he can have a core custom made for only $250 or so. YIKES :eek:

So, can anyone (a) recommend a DIY fixit solution (b) a replacement modern core or (c) have a good used 40 core?

Or, do I find a heater core catalog and hopefully find one with same dimensions and change the tubes out?

Thanks!

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Contact these folks: http://ucvintagerad.com

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Faced with an $800 re-core, I painted a thick coat of liquid FlexSeal on some miniscule leaks (more like weeping) on my radiator. It has held up for about 1000 miles on some hot days and with a 7 lb radiator cap. I bronze brushed the adjacent surface nice and clean.

So, if you can get to the leak with a little brush, it might be worth a try.

Or, Barr's StopLeak is pretty good on pinhole leaks.

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Solder works wonders...

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Kube,
Radiator guy says that he can't repair that type of core construction, if that's what you're referring to.
Maybe I need to find another guy? I drove 75 miles to Knoxville to this guy. They're all going out business. He bought the equipment from the best guy who had been in business since 1923.

Fortyniner,
Good tip, thanks!

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

I just had my 40 recored for $200 by cap-a-radiator a real rad shop not too many left who work on vintage cars,i wish drake or somebody would repro old ford heater cores,im sure they would be swamped with orders

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Just a thought. Had a friend with a 65 Comet that developed a major leak while he was driving it. It was blowing very hot radiator fluid on him and he wrecked the car. Now, this was a later pressurized system, but something to keep in mind. A major heat core leak while driving is not a good thing, so might want to be sure the core is in good shape. Any repair should be of good quality. Lability might be a shops concern for a repair of this type inside the car.

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Try YouTube "radiator leak repair" dozens of do it your self videos for repairs from solder. JB weld, epoxy, etc
John

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Princessauto has heater cores (non descriptive) that they sell new for 5bucks.
Two of these put together would fit in your heater box and give far more heat than the original! Just connect the two together with a short hose and the two remaining connections will go to the water feed..............

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

[QUOTE=,i wish drake or somebody would repro old ford heater cores,im sure they would be swamped with orders[/QUOTE]

You don't want to get one from backorder Bob. It would end up being Chinese. Better to get original re-cored.

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

take a pair of needle nose plyers go about an inch bellow the leak & pinch the tube several times toward the leak. do the same above the leak.that,s what we did years ago when you could get a new core for 8 dollars

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Generally, I have found that repairing leaks in heater cores is a loosing proposition. They deteriorate over time, and once they develop a leak, another can soon follow. While changing heater cores on per-war Fords is pretty easy, it can be a real challenge on later model cars. I prefer to do it once and be done with it.

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

A core the same thickness that is larger can be cut down (both for width and length) and the stock tanks with supply tubes can be soldered on. A friend who used to work in a radiator shop told me they used to take new cores and cut them down with a hand saw, then solder the old tanks on.

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

I also have had a local radiator shop cut a core down to size and use the tanks from my provided core. This was on my 54 F100.

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

Found this, I never shopped with this vender, but I will see if I can fit one of these in my '41
https://www.universalpartsinc.com/shopping/?ic=10552

Advance Auto also lists a car quest one.

Re: 40 Heater recore??
 

After the great tip from FortyNiner, I emailed http://ucvintagerad.com

They called me back today with a quote of $89 for a bare core.
8"x8"x2-1/4". You use your old tanks and tubes.

I also found a Chrysler heater core at my parts store that would work. $41 !!!.
7.5"x7.75""x2". Tubes are 5/8", but are short and straight, unlike stock.
Easy to adapt if you're not restoring exactly.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.