Heater Core Woes
Thread Starter
|
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
I always thought it was because it looked like one laid down. But, now that you mention it.... They did have an option - a gasoline heater. Yep, it ran off of the gas from the tank and warmed the thing pretty well - sometimes too well in fact, as in FIRE! Fun thing to have in the vehicle with you!?
Thread Starter
|
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Matt - Thanks. That looks like one that'll fit in via taking the cover off - right? It looks to be the spitting image of the old copper/brass one I have on the bench.
Can you PM me with the price, shipping time, etc? And, if you folks take Paypal? I'm in kind of a time crunch and need to plan my time.
Can you PM me with the price, shipping time, etc? And, if you folks take Paypal? I'm in kind of a time crunch and need to plan my time.
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
Likes: 11
From: Exmore, VA
Gary, FWIW, I went by O'Reilly's this evening and got Jennifer to look up a heater core for the 81 F-150 with AC. She showed two PNs, one showed a copper/brass core and the proper tank design, the other the later style core. I had her pull the "correct" one and open it for me, surprise, surprise, it was the later style aluminum one. She went back and looked at the other PN, the one that showed the later core and it was identical. One listed for $22.99 and the other $24.99.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Yup. The one that was supposed to be copper/brass was 398300, but what was in the box was 398247. Been there done that. Gonna be lots of angry, frustrated people that try to put those in. My local O'Reilly's won't sell them 'cause they know the thing will come back since it won't fit - or apparently won't fit w/o pulling the whole heater box.
Thread Starter
|
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
I'm thrilled that Matt had it. Anyone out there looking for a heater core for a factory A/C standard output heater had better forget Visteon, all of their brands like Readyair and Vista-Pro, and get the Spectra. Until Visteon realizes what they are doing wrong and recalls millions of the wrong item in the right box you cannot get the right part from them. Some will get returned to them, but others will get re-stocked at the local parts store since most of them don't know what the problem is. So this problem is likely to go on for a very long time.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
Look what I just found. Is this the correct part?
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Ford Truck and Brono Heater Core | eBay
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Ford Truck and Brono Heater Core | eBay
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,839
Likes: 107
From: Martinsburg, WV
Look what I just found. Is this the correct part?
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Ford Truck and Brono Heater Core | eBay
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 Ford Truck and Brono Heater Core | eBay
Aftermarket 94522 or 399004
80-90 B Series, F/FT Series and F Series p/u.
Thread Starter
|
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
As has sorta been pointed out, that's not the right part for my truck. Compare the picture of that one w/the picture of the one Matt has shipped me and you'll see that the inlet and outlet tubes point in the wrong direction.