Heater core
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Powell River B.C.
Heater core
3 door heater in my 48 F-68, Canadian built truck. Heater core leaking a bit, so pulled it apart, took off one of the tanks, sure enough full of crud. Will try cleaning cores out, but pretty sure by the time thats done all the buried corrosion under the crud, it will leak a lot more.
Any ideas if anyone makes an aftermarket replacement core, or has a good used core. Alternatively, once I get it cleaned out anyone know of a good "mechanic in a can" product to try and plug up the leaks- heater core only, wont put it in the engine.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 79
From: Northville, MI
3 door heater in my 48 F-68, Canadian built truck. Heater core leaking a bit, so pulled it apart, took off one of the tanks, sure enough full of crud. Will try cleaning cores out, but pretty sure by the time thats done all the buried corrosion under the crud, it will leak a lot more.
Any ideas if anyone makes an aftermarket replacement core, or has a good used core. Alternatively, once I get it cleaned out anyone know of a good "mechanic in a can" product to try and plug up the leaks- heater core only, wont put it in the engine.
Any ideas if anyone makes an aftermarket replacement core, or has a good used core. Alternatively, once I get it cleaned out anyone know of a good "mechanic in a can" product to try and plug up the leaks- heater core only, wont put it in the engine.
- That looks like an aftermarket heater. I would check on eBay as there are several companies/people on there restoring aftermarket heaters of all types. You might check with them or you might see one that you like better than what you have that has already been restored. See http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Heater-Blower-Hot-Rod-Rat-Rod-Ford-Chevy-Plymouth-Hudson-Studebaker-/190753539266?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123 and http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ACCESSORY-CATHEDRAL-ART-DECO-HOT-ROD-WATER-HEATER-SCTA-ROADSTER-OG-RAT-/251182489799?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
- Barleak has always worked well. It doesn't crud things up again and it keeps the corrosion under control in the cooling system too.
- You should PM Denny Dahle known as "firstrider" here on FTE as he knows a lot about heaters for these trucks. He helped me find most of the parts for my rare 1950 OE heater.
New User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7
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From: Scarborough Ontario
3 door heater in my 48 F-68, Canadian built truck. Heater core leaking a bit, so pulled it apart, took off one of the tanks, sure enough full of crud. Will try cleaning cores out, but pretty sure by the time thats done all the buried corrosion under the crud, it will leak a lot more.
Any ideas if anyone makes an aftermarket replacement core, or has a good used core. Alternatively, once I get it cleaned out anyone know of a good "mechanic in a can" product to try and plug up the leaks- heater core only, wont put it in the engine.
A rad shop can check the core out and repair it as required. Might be worth a shot.
Brian
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 384
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From: Brights Grove,Ont. Canada
That seems to be a very common heater in the Canadian trucks. I have one just like it in my 1949 M-47. I've seen lots of them over the years at the swapmeets here in Ontario.
I got mine recored years ago at a rad shop. Wasn't a lot of money to have it done.
Greg -47
I got mine recored years ago at a rad shop. Wasn't a lot of money to have it done.
Greg -47
Elder User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 728
Likes: 2
From: North Idaho
If you want to "boil" out the crud in your core I would use Super Clean. Fill you unit 1/2 to 3/4 full then cap off the ports and let it set for a day or so, shake it once in a while and flip it from side to side occasionally.
Drain and flush with hot water and repeat again.
Super Clean works well for heavy cleaning operations but its tough on your skin and the fumes make me gag, but it does work great.
Drain and flush with hot water and repeat again.
Super Clean works well for heavy cleaning operations but its tough on your skin and the fumes make me gag, but it does work great.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Same core
I have the same heater; had local rad shop flush and then seal leaks.
I also re-routed the "plumbing" of the feed copper lines to exit horizontally through the firewall to connect to my heater hoses on my 5.0L
Tom
I also re-routed the "plumbing" of the feed copper lines to exit horizontally through the firewall to connect to my heater hoses on my 5.0L
Tom
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 1
From: Jamestown, IN
Those are not aftermarket heaters. Those were the standard heater for the 48-50 trucks. That is the heater you got if you wanted a heater but didnt want to pay for the fresh air set up. The actual core has the same dimensions as the 41-48 car and has the same exact motor as the car. it is a reversible motor that has 4 wires coming out of it. All of those heaters also had a drain plug in the core. The trucks used almost the same switch as the car but instead of saying "indirect/direct" it said "defrost/heat" and the brackets look the same but the trucks switch and defroster cable are backwards from the car..
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,068
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From: Moyie, BC Canada
I was wondering about that. I ran my 6 volt heater motor on the bench with 12 volts and it seemed to run real good for quite a while and didn't heat up, or is it doomed?
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 138
From: Alberta Canada
Aftermarket switch
I used an after market 12 volt fan motor, so no issues with speed but..
could you put a rheostat (control switch) in power line to control the fan speed by increasing the line resistance (dropping volt ) if staying with 6 volt fan ?
Tom
could you put a rheostat (control switch) in power line to control the fan speed by increasing the line resistance (dropping volt ) if staying with 6 volt fan ?
Tom