I'm trying to get a new heater core for my 1952 F-1. Here is what I took out the other day. I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. All my time on the internet has so far produced nothing. I have no idea how long this one has been in the truck. I can't imagine that it could be the original one at all... but I have no recollection of every changing the heater core and I've owned the truck since 1981. Thanks for any help!

 

Mid Fifty has one listed:

1948-52 Ford F-100 Heater Core, 4852

 

Thanks for the link - I'll check them out. All I knew so far was that NPD and Dearborn Classics didn't seem to have one.

 

If you have a local radiator shop, sometimes they can do a measurement and cross you over to a new core. They will reuse the end section with the tubes and they should also be able to replace the tubes. My cost was around 50 dollars total. One problem with this is there are not very many true radiator shops still around.

 

Check with firstrider here on the forum he probably has one he restores these heaters

 

Did you find a core yet ? That core is 2 " thick & must be precise on the width & length . If you still do not have one ( $190 @ mid fifty whoa ) get in touch . Those are the hardest to find & the headers / tanks are 2 pcs. Am about to take all the components to the radiator shop where the '51 & '52 Magic Air heater cores are made up &see if he likes a challenge .

Your picture is of an original heater core out of a '48-'52 Standard box type heater w/ block lettered FORD .

 

If it was mine, I would take it to a local shop and try to have it repaired.

My 1987 F250 had a great heater in it, you could drive through the mountain passes with snow on the ground and have to turn the heat to a medium setting. It really worked well.
Then the brass heater core went bad and started leaking. I picked up a replacement from a local parts store. It was some thin aluminum piece made in china. That heater never blew hot air again.
I swear the air from the vents was just starting to blow warm, then it would blow cold again, a few min later almost warm and then cold again.
Was a daily driven work truck and the radiator, water pump T-stat was all new, I drove another 5 years with no heater after that.
This was New Mexico and AC was more important then heat.
Careful of replacement cores.

 

I went to 2 different radiator shops in my area and neither one would touch my core. Said it's too far gone for repair. I have checked out the brassworks website and wondered if I should just cough up the $300 for one of their cores?

 

I have another post on this exact issue. I pressurized my heater core and stuck it in the sink. The bubbles were coming from the solder joint at the tank to core. Local radiator shop said $30 to solder it.

I also got a reply from another member about a substitute core. It is from a 1996 up Ford E-350 REAR heater. Part number and info in that post today. Many are aluminum but, I found one in brass for $30 on eBay.

 

Try Universal Carnegie Manufacturing in Pa.Search the web for sizes & prices .Good luck

 

1952: THREE different heater cores. TWO are not the same as 1948/51.

The only heater core that is the same 1948/56 is 8J-18476-B = 1948/52 F3/F5 Parcel Delivery & 1953/56 P350/500 P Series Parcel Delivery.