While trying to find a non-aluminum heater core I ran across this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Vista-Pro-399004-Heater-Core-Ford-/151226127678?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1986%7CModel%3AF-350&hash=item2335c7953e&vxp=mtr
But I have no idea how to tell which one I have or if this can be fitted into a non-high output heater core housing.

Anyone have any idea?

I think I figured it out. The plastic housing in the engine compartment for the A/C unit will have "HIGH OUTPUT" on it if it's got this core. The core for the non-A/C seems to be different than the one with A/C as well. Motorcraft HC3 is available for mine with A/C in a copper/brass unit, and I think HC2 is the non-A/C version. I'm ordering one off Rockauto.

And beware of some dork on e-bay selling cheapo aluminum heater cores with a copper core image and copper core price. I'm dealing with their song and dance right now. After going through a few aluminum ones I am **OVER** it. No garbage aluminum heater core for me.

Thanks for looking folks!

 

nice.last i looked i couldn't find a copper core for the 9th gen trucks.keep us posted as to if you really receive one for your 7th gen.good luck!

 

Will do. I just got a refund from e-bay dude. Can't determine if it was a scam or just a goof, but I ordered a Motorcraft HC3 from Rockauto.com for $90 shipped. It looked like they had them for other years as well.

Yeah, I put 3 aluminum cores in my Dodge and then went to the dealer. Aluminum may be conductive but it also happens to be an excellent anode and thus prone to *spectacular* internal galvanic erosion.

I'll update when I get it, just ordered it tonight.

BTW the e-bay link I posted is NOT the one that was really aluminum. It's a different vendor/posting. And out of curiosity I looked to see if the 9th gen was available on Rock in copper. Doesn't look like it. The Motorcraft HC7 is aluminum.

 

i get my heater cores from napa, real copper..

 

The a/c and comfort vent(with dash vents) use the same core that is behind the glove box. There is not a high output version.
The heat only systems very clearly have high output cast right into the heater box under the hood and they have the core out under the hood.
The A/C style cores are much easier to change.
I ended up with an aluminum core in my IDI truck as it kept blowing up the tubes in copper ones and crushing the fins for no apparent reason.

 

Now I wish I had asked sooner (or called them). All they could get for my other rig was paper thin aluminum, so I assumed it would be the same story for the Ford.

Seems like it gets harder and harder to get quality as time goes on.

 

I just noticed I can't post attachments- so sorry, no pic. The Rock Auto HC3 (motorcraft part) I just got *is* a high quality copper core. I would post a pic if I could, but it looks very similar to the pic of the "high output" but slightly different end caps and pipes.

If you search it out on RockAuto Parts Catalog site and click on the image, what I got looks *exactly* like that.

 

Ground (bond) your heater core to the body with a wire, it should slow galvanic corrosion.