Anyone replaced a heater core recently?

[Tondar]

I read a few threads here and ordered a heater core from rock auto (the OSC version based on a post here that it was copper and came with the gaskets). The OSC version is now aluminum and doesn't come with any gaskets. What is the collective wisdom here now? Thx in advance for any help!

 

[GSTwithPSI]

Yeah, I swapped in one of the aluminum OSC models (OSC 98780) from RockAuto into 820 a few years back. Worked great. IIRC, I had to get new foam from the hardware store, but otherwise it was pretty much plug and play.

Removing the dash sucked f***ing ass though. Have fun with that. Make sure you pay special attention to the cable routing for the HVAC system. If you screw that up it's going to be painful to fix.

 

[Tondar]

Wow, thank you for the reply with the pics! I'm glad to hear the OSC version worked out. Question, in you 6th pic of the "box" containing the heater core, how well supported are the hose attachments coming through the firewall? a budy of mine a while back was helping with my engine removal and before I could stop him he was putting too much force taking off the heater hoses by hand (I would cut them off and not take the chance of damaging anything) now the pipes sticking out are a bit tweaked and I have to worry that he broke something. Copper is rather maleable so i can bend them back into shape but who knows if he cracked the tube anywhere inside the car?

 

[GSTwithPSI]

The only support provided is by the small bracket and grommets (pictured in the photo you mentioned). If they got tweaked a bit you should be fine bending them back. The weak point is at the core itself where the tubes attach. You likely won't know if they are fucked up until you run the car and get the system up to pressure.