Heater Core tip for 98s and up that saves money

[smittie1984]

I had a heater core leak not to long ago. I went to a local radiator shop and looked for a heater core. Apparently they didn\'t make heater cores for 98s. Well they did but their book shows up to 97. Then skips to 99. The 99 heater core cost $130 and had to be ordered. The 97 I got for $30 and it was there. So I went with the 97 hoping it will fit.



Well I tore all the way through my dash and got to it and it wasn\'t right. The 97\'s tubes were completely different from mine. But I found a way around. Just take the tubes off your old one and put those on your 97 heater core. It fits perfect. And it works. It also saved me $100.



But my best advice if you want to fix your heater core is to get FULL Coverage insurance. And set it on fire. It\'s much easier.



Here are some before and after pics...

<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/smittie61984/heatercore1.jpg" BORDER="0" target=_blank><font size="-2">image will open in new window</font></a><hr width='200'>


<hr width='200'><img src='images/jpg.gif'>: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/smittie61984/heatercore2.jpg" BORDER="0" target=_blank><font size="-2">image will open in new window</font></a><hr width='200'>




Also does anyone have a GM handbook on how long it says to change a heater core? I want to know how much it would have cost me if I took it to a mechanic.

[MARKYMARK]

when my 99 started leaking i went to the u-pull junk yard and pulled one from a 2003 s-10 for $5. got the part, got a lesson on how to take it out without breaking anything on mine.i agree they should of enginered that much better. i took 5 hours on mine

[smittie1984]

You ain\'t kidding. I don\'t know what idiot designed that. And the Big 3 wonders why they aren\'t doing as well as they use to.



I thought about looking into say a toyota or a honda for a heater core from one of those cars. And see if it would fit up to mine. I forgot what it is that is different about them. I think they make it out of copper or something like that. But whatever it is you\'ll never have to change that heater core out as long as you have that vehicle.



But when this one goes out I\'ll try that out.