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Hopefully this is a picture of the heater that just came out of my truck. It is pretty nasty and smelly. I have read quite a bit on them but have a few question....like, what next? Can these be restored? Can you buy reproductions?
Looks to be in better shape than most of the used ones being sold.
Restored ones with more style that that design are very expensive. Reproduction ones, I don't know.
Put a hose to it and see if it will flow freely and clear after awhile. If it isn't like swiss cheese it would be worth getting the core repaired and detailing/painting it back up. At least you know it will fit your truck.
I just finished mine up today and put it back in. It is a restorable part. Take it apart. Pull out the core and blower motor. Turn the fan by hand and see if it turns freely and no blades are missing. You can test the core by making your own pressure tank like I did. Get your self a plastic trash can or 5 gallon bucket. Fill it with water. Use your hoses and put them on the inlet and outlet of the core. Crimp one hose and tape it closed. Put the core in the water and inject air in the other hose while holding a tight grip around the air nozzel. The bubbles will tell you how bad it is. If it is something that you think you fix yourself then great if not a local radiator shop can do it in most cases. If it is too far gone then take it Napa and let them find a similar core that you can use.
My Core was split all the way across the bottom and I just Soldered it myself. Cleaned up everything and painted it and put it all back together bought new hoses and reinstalled it. About 3 hours of total work. There is one on ebay that I have in my watch list just to see how much is goes for. Last check it was 120 something and the reserve was not met.
Well I got the fan motor out and wired it up...and it hummed like a new one. I have to admit that it surprised me. Flush the core and it has gotten clean. Seems like it holds water well but haven't pressurized it yet.