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I am looking for a heater box for my truck. I purchased one that was incorrect due to the year of the cab vs the year of the truck. I have two of the heater boxes that are horizontal hoses. I need one that is Vertical hoses. Can i get a new cover for the vertical one or would a new box be the better option. any advice would be greatly appreciated.
if anyone needs the horizontal ones let me know. The pictures below are just reference for what i have vs what i need.
I may have explained it incorrectly I have two heater boxes that the lines are horizontal to each other my cab has the vertical line holes. I would like to have the correct orientation of the lines without modification
What year is your truck? From your login name I'd assume 1965. However, from 1961-1964 the cabs used a heater core with tubes vertically oriented. In 1965 they changed to the side-by-side horizontal orientation for the tubes. The heater plenum also changed significantly and the heater motor was now visible from inside the cab instead of pointing toward the firewall with a cover on the engine side to access it. Here's a picture of a 1964 cab with the cover for the heater motor access on the firewall. Does your cab have that?
The only company reproducing 61-64 heater cores is Brassworks in Paso Robles CA. They are build to order, take a few weeks and are not cheap but are very nice. https://www.thebrassworks.net/produc...00-heater-core
I searched for a matching copper core size that was available (8x6x2) and found the 92 Chevy Caprice was a match and the bottom tank looked close. I removed the top tank and soldered on my top tank. I did not have to modify the bottom tank. I had to slightly modify the frame that holds the brass core to the box but no modification to the heater box itself. Pressure tested it and all has been good with it for a couple years. If you have a local old school radiator shop close, thats the easiest path, but if you're up for a project.... I had never done this before, so it was fun but took a bit of time.
If you need a complete box you can try www.slicktruckparts.com They will have a good one but the core may need a rebuild. Use the 'Contact Us' feature on the site.
The metal portion of the housing that bolts to the firewall is the same for both heater types. The fiberglass plenum came in two different forms. @7BercMerc shows the type they called "RECIRCULATING" which didn't use the bracket under the dash for the two control cables. In the "RECIRCULATING" case one cable ran to the front lever seen. In the "FRESH AIR" system two control cables ran to the front side.
The "FRESH AIR" system used this accordion bellows looking piece to connect from the kick panel connector to the manually controlled passenger side fresh air box. The black arrow in the second drawing is pointing away from this accordion piece. The fresh air box is to its left if you tilt your head to the left. Lol
Ahh ok so yeah I need to find a 61-64 box then. I have two of the bottom picture. Would it be wise to list them on the marketplace here
Maybe, although you may get more visibility on FB or Craigslist. Someone may chime in on converting your firewall to accept the newer style box. I have never tried that but the advantage would be the 65-66 heater cores are readily available when/if needed.
I've held a 65-66 box up to the firewall of my 1964. It would be pretty major surgery to get it to fit. The firewalls between them and the 61-64 cab in that area is quite different. The placement of all of the holes is way off. Possibly grafting that portion of the firewall into the early cab but that would be a lot of work. This fella on eBay sells a core for less than I'd think you'd have in time trying to adapt it to work.
I agree that grafting parts of the firewall of the 65 onto the 64 cab is a lot of work but you probably have the skills if you are getting that 64 cab to fit on the 65 frame. I think if the firewall of your 65 cab isn't in bad shape, cut the whole thing out and weld it into the 64. Maybe even the whole instrument panel as you will then have the correct dash for the 65 steering column and you will get the correct holes for the 65 wiring through the firewall. Not a big fan of that setup on eBay... Using the brass core of the Caprice was a lot cheaper and a better setup. That complete heater box from thepartsguy.com is a pretty good deal it seems. Choices, choices... Good luck.
I did not have to do any fabrication for the cab to fit as it is a 65 f250 4x4 so the cab was the same because it has the step in it I think with looking I may have to only drill a hole for the hoses to fit as the bolting looks to be the same
