Ok, I have searched and searched and will keep searching. But I have to replace my heater core. Anybody know where to get it a direct fit replacement? The one from Advance Auto doesn't fit from what I have read. The part # is 399083. Thanks

 

Also there is one on autopartswarehouse.com. Part # is Spectra 94606. Any info is greatly appreciated

 

I have no clue where you read that but it wasn't from me

I slapped one in without any issues. So, there is a first-hand account telling you that it works just peachy keen.

 

I purchased one from auto-zone for 30 bucks and it fit perfect. easy installation, took maybe an hour to an hour and a half.

 

alright thanks. will do that

 

Just replaced mine with the help of this thread on all accounts:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cool...ht=heater+core

 

yep just finished mine up with my dad. PITA but cheaper than payin someone else to do it. The one from advanced does fit, just takes some convinicing to do it

 

My son just replaced his in his 91 RS. The one from O'Reilly's was made slightly different and did not allow the use of the original clamp/screw to hold it in place. It came with some foam sticky pads to put on the heater core so the cover held it in place.

I bought one from Auto zone that was exactly like the original and installed/fit like the original. Now the kid is warm again.

 

theres basically 2 versions of the "direct fit" heater core for our cars sold by the local auto parts stores. one is actually a direct fit, the other has end tanks that are slightly different and dont allow the use of the stock clamp. thats the one that comes with the adheasive foam pad to install it.

 

I used the one from Advanced that had no foam so just used the foam that seals camper shells to truck beds. Worked great!

 

I was warm with the old 1, but my windows would fog up like crazy and I would have a puddle of antifreeze in the passenger floor board. Haven't had a chance to try the new 1 yet

 

now you can be warm with clear windows and no coolant in the cabin...

 

Haha hopefully if I did it right lol. It leaked at first but just tightened the hoses down a lil more

 

get it to operating temp. then get on a st you can go fast that way you can gas it a little to make sure that it wont leak, thats what i did, and the first time it came off and then i redid it and havnt had a problem since.

 

I know, old thread, but it seemed better to bring this up, then start a new one. Has anyone replaced their heater core lately? It seems that all of them are made like part# 399083 Vista Pro or Ready-Aire. I cannot find one that is exactly like what I took out of my car. I've already tried installing that garbage they sell and I'm sorry, it should bolt right in and fit the plastic retainer PERFECTLY, and not have to be finaggled with foam tape globbed all over it. The tanks are too big, there's no space between the side tanks at the tubes (it's one big tank). You cannot get the brackets on at all. I refuse to install this half wit made garbage in my 89 Firebird, so my factory one is now at a radiator shop being repaired and hopefully they can. Does anyone know of an exact direct fit replacement left out there? I've been to every auto parts store in town and they are all made like 399083. It's universal garbage that should never be listed for F-BODY. I called the dealer and of course it's long gone there. I swear it seems every year, these "replacement" parts are getting worse and worse.

 

I'm going to be brutally frank; then don't use it.

I bought the junk you described, discarded the brackets, popped it in and never looked back. It works fine. I don't get caught up on things like looking for exact replacements. It's form/fit/function with me. I've been doing this way to long and we're not talking about collectible vehicles worth 6 figures

 

Oh, I didn't use it. I took it back along with my original and the plastic shroud/brackets to the autoparts store and even they said it was a joke. He thought at first it was boxed wrong, so he ordered me another one and it was the same, yet the picture on their computer looked perfect. At any rate, the radiator shop fixed mine for $24.00 and it looks brand new. They flushed it, tested it, re-soldered everything, cleaned it and it's going back in tonight! I guess that's what I might as well get used to...fixing parts instead of replacing them since these idiots that make stuff have never even seen original parts before. Form and Fit? Are you kidding me? Not even close. Function? I'll give you that since it still looks like a heater core. I could care less how much my thirdgens are worth, they are not for sale. If these companies are going to continue making parts for our cars, then they need to make them right, otherwise, they don't need to be making them at all.

I miss the days when you could walk into a parts store and walk right out with DIRECT FIT replacement parts...I guess those days are over and it's sad.

 

I Replaced Mine A Few Months Ago I Used The Spectra Premium 94606 It Has The Notch In The Core Like The Factory Did ,The Heater Core Clamp Goes In This Notch And Screws To The Heater Core Shrould To Hold The Core In Place The Cores You Mentioned Don't Have It

 

I was able to use my original brackets, I just put foam tape all the way around it so it wouldn't rattle or leak anything. Getting it in was a PITA but so was taking the old one out. I put that foam all the way around the box also. The replacement part was a little bit different, but its made in China so it ain't gonna be exact. My car is a dd, I wasn't worried about it not fitting 100% perfect, its not an 80 thousand dollar show car, its a 2000 dollar beater. My heater now works perfectly and that is all I was tryin to achieve, old heater core was beyond repair so I had to replace. But I do get what your saying.