heater core retrofit
 

I have an 1954 F-100 with recirculating heater with defrost tubes. Core is seen inside truck and has grill with ford shield . Most people on here have painted outside edge of grill silver. Anyway, the heater core is shot in mine. I was wondering if anyone have purchased a core from other car or truck that will work in this box? I searched the forum but didn't find the answer. I was hoping a cheaper way to fix my heater instead of re-core of my old core. Thanks

If you have the heater below, Mid-Fifty (and others) sell the core. (heater radiator)

To my knowledge, there are no modern vehicles that use the same core.

1953-64 Ford F-100 Heater Radiator, Straight/angle - 18476

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have that same heater. I was hoping not to spend $178.00 . I read somewhere that someone had luck with a new one from other truck but for the life of me I can't remember. I think he had to move holes going through firewall a little. Wouldn't matter to me since the cab i'm using came from an f-600 fire truck and it didn't have heater. I have a nice Arvin heater with good heater core in one of my cabs that I could use but it doesn't have holes for defrost. Plus this Ford heater is a good looking unit and tucks well under dash. I might just bite the bullet and go for replacement core. Thanks again!

The one I remember was "fifty-twoF1" who repurposed a modern core, but obviously in an early truck.

If you have the heater(Effie Trucker pictured above), yes, there's a much cheaper alternative. You'll have to drill 2 new holes in the back of the heater box and the tubes aren't as long as the original, but it worked great for me. If somebody doesn't get you a part number by the week-end, PM me and I'll search through my receipts.

The core can be replaced, I found a radiator shop here in the Memphis area ( Moore & Clements ) They took the ends off the old core and attached them to a new core costing 80 dollars.

Thanks, I would be interested in part#. I don't have any holes now so wouldn't mind. I would consider re-core of my old core if I could get it done for a reasonable price. Haven't found a radiator place near by to ask yet. My core looks good on ends but has at least 6 or more holes in fins. Thanks again.

Yeah sorry, I wish we could lower the price on our rebuilt cores, but the only radiator place near us charges us a pretty penny to do them, $80 to rebuild it for 3golfjack sounds really good to me!

I used a mid 60/70 heater core and added copper plumbing elbows and pipe
was alot cheaper

Joe

They used heater core- TSM part#399007 This is used on a 1964 Ford Falcon. core size- 8"x 6" x 2 1/2". They swapped out the end with the inlet and outlet.

Thanks so much for the information!

It isn't the same type of heater as yours, but I went with a re-core. It was a bit pricey at $180, but I've never seen my core re-popped. Mine is the simple box-type heater.

that ford one looks really similar to chevy trucks without air 67-72. I've replaced it before and they look close in shape