Which heater core?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 5
Which heater core?
I have an '88 F250 7.5L extended cab with air conditioning. The heater core started to leak, so I got a replacement from O'Reilly. It doesn't fit, it's too tall to fit in the air box. I went all over town trying to find another one, and they're pretty much all the same, just rebranded. I see Rock Auto has a few different ones, but I am not sure if I have "high output heater" or not. I suspect that would be on the super cab, but I don't know. Kind of a bummer because the core that is in it is copper, all the new ones are aluminum. I kind of thought about calling around to see if I can find a radiator shop that would fix it, thoughts on that? Has anyone replaced theirs, and if so, which one did you get? Thanks
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 421
Likes: 67
I got the TYC one off RockAuto and it’s ok. I had the bend the pipes a little to line up with the holes, and the unit itself was thinner and lighter than the one I pulled out. Wasn’t real impressed with it, and it didn’t improve my heat, so there’s that. I think the high output heaters were only on trucks that didn’t have AC.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 5
thanks. My problem was the aftermarket one was too tall and just a hair too wide. I may try one from rock auto and see how it goes.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,555
Likes: 2,035
From: North Texas
I THINK I used a GDP or whatever, but it all probably comes from the same factory in Chyna. I went from copper on the 88, 92, and 96 to alu, no issues.
Do you have any pictures of the trouble installing the unit?
Do you have any pictures of the trouble installing the unit?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 5
thanks. No I didn’t take any pictures, I should have. I ordered the OSC one from rock auto, will see how it goes.
More Turbo
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 587
Likes: 73
I replaced mine in my 94 a while back. It was pain to get the old one out, and the new one in. Due to space. Have you matched the new one to the old one to see if you are just getting things lined up right?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,557
Likes: 44
From: Concord, NC
I had an issue with this also. I had to find one with rounded end tanks to get it to fit in the housing. It looks like there may be one on RockAuto that would possibly work, the APDI/PRO 9010205.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 5
thanks, yes that was my problem too. In the end, 3rd time was a charm. I ended up getting one from Advance that had a rounded bottom, and it fit. It was tight but it fit. The one from Rock Auto (the osc brand) didn’t have the right input/output tubes so I have to send that one back.
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