Since GM and AC Delco no longer sell the heater core for our cars (my '85 TA) anymore do any of you have a preference as to which brand is best? I purchased a Spectra from Autozone but something about the looks of it just doesn't inspire me with confidence. I would rather not have to do this job again, ever!

Not sure how many choices there are. I reluctantly put in that cheapo thin aluminum Spectra one in a few years ago when I had the heater box apart to free up a siezed blend door. On a 25 year old car, I figured I might as well replace the heater while I was looking at it even though it wasn't leaking.

I kept the original just in case, it's a really nice brass one. The Spectra one really looked like junky, but it hasn't leaked yet.

That's the way I feel. The Spectra just doesn't seem as quality as the OE. I was lucky about a month ago and found a NOS AC Delco for my '91 TA. I may wait a few days or so and see if I can get lucky twice!

after discovering that you cannot buy a real heater core anymore, im having a local radiator shop MAKE me one(real copper brass,no less!) to the tune of $155. pricy.yes. but anything is better than a aluminum heater core.IMHO.the aluminum ones now available are absolute POS!!

That is something that I did want to hear. I just finished installing the Spectra Heater Core. You know, the heater core is quite easy to replace. I had always heard that the dash needed to be pulled. I didn't even have to remove the dash pad. What was a "bear" was the 30 year old hoses (the one behind the engine in particular) that gave me the most grief. At least now I have those replaced and if I should have to do the Heater Core again the hose part should be easier. Thanx for your input!

Funny. I just did mine today. Its a Spectra as well. I guess time will tell. My last one lasted about 16 years.

I have had good luck with Murray products.
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http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...rd=heater+core

A coolant flush and refill with distilled water/antifreeze will go a long way towards preventing corrosion that will shorten the life of your heater core.

R&R for the core in your 85 should take all of 45 minutes, which will include replacing both heater hoses while you're there.

I have owned my '85 TA since new. I have almost always used a 50/50 mix of distilled water and antifreeze which I guess has helped this original core last for nearly 30 years. Normally you would be right about the job not taking all that long but since my hoses were "welded" on I ended up cutting them off and replacing them. So getting both hands down behind the engine to get to the bottom of that smaller outlet hose was not fun. This '85 was not as bad as my '91 though due to all of the things that I removed in the '91 to get to that little hose in the back. I'm just glad that the core itself was not the nighmare that I had always invisioned it to be and I would encourage anyone else who needs to have one replaced to do it themselves.

the job itself is easy, the fact that all those "spectra" cores are cheap aluminum is what kills us. if we want it to be right we have to pay big bucks to get the real thing.as for me i aint skimping on this. which is why my heater core cost me $155

Got mine at an auto parts store, Advance Auto, so they're still available. Amd you're right; I wouldn't want to replace another heater core, ever.

Advance has the brass cores? I couldn't find them. Can you post the part number to help others?

he cant because they only have the cheap a$$ aluminum ones.and the whole point is to avoid them at all costs.i have been to all of the auto parts retailers.and they all only sell the aluminum heater cores.

Right now , there are 3 still left of the old style not aluminum ones for sale on Ebay for $24.99 each , free shipping . There were 4 left , but I ordered one of em , just to have handy as a spare

I hate to tell you that part is ALUMINUM !!! murray does not offer a good copper brass heater core any longer

There is also a NOS unit made by Stant on ebay for $30. It doesn't say what it's made of but the ends look copperish.

last time i replaced my heater core, i bought a new one from NAPA and they gave me a copper brass unit. Then again that was like 6 years ago. Just checked the website and it's a spectra part and it's aluminum in the picture. bummer.

I bought a Vista pro one off ebay for around $30.
They are aluminum, but seem to be decent quality.
I really don't understand the beef with aluminum heater cores, pretty much any new car made in the past 15 years has one.

I'm running a murry. It has held up for 5-6 years so far.

Well , I figured it was too good to be true ... I'll enclose two pictures , one of the picture in the Ebay seller's ad , and one of what showed up here today . Thing is , I will keep it but still wonder if a negative rating is deserved for the seller because of the deception ???

Check the ad. Seller has choice of delcaring if item in pic is actual item for sale or just a sample. Leave feedback based on that.

My Vista-Pro that I bought from RockAuto looks just like that. No need to knock the seller, it's clearly the manufacturers fault.... I have the same issue with the pipes not lining up perfectly. My plan is to CAREfully bend them into place and apply JB Weld to the fitting where the pipes meet the core itself to prevent any leaks.

fuc$ yeah, post a negative feed back!!!! god dam44 ALUMINUM BULL SHI$! when they post things for sale they should reveal the truth. in THIS case , the seller did NOT. e bay beware ,seems to be the general case with e bay. looks like a real actual heater core just cant be had. spectra,murray .all they have to offer is sub standard trash

dude ,we dont need to be fixing trash that wont be adequate in the best of situations.send it back with an explanation of WHY its totally ineadequate (its made of aluminum) you got had. lesson learned

My vista-pro fit just fine. I can't speak for longevity yet though.

Many cores are made of aluminum today... does that mean those are trash too?

radiators today are aluminum.... a heater core is a baby radiator... Trash?

I have done 8 heater cores in the last year.on various brands of cars .and one was a 90 Camaro.not one of my customers are happy with the heat output .something in a aluminum core ,they just don't seem to produce the same heat as the copper brass cores they replaced. could be its the same reason that a aluminum radiator is so much more efficient at heat removal than the previous design?? the gripe I have is ,who thought itd be ok to change the design and materials? and its not just heater cores.across the board.parts are being re designed to be cheaper to make im guessing.

Thank You eseibel67 . I did heed your suggestion and re read the original Ebay ad from top to bottom and couldn't find anywhere that the photo might not represent the actual product delivered . I think based on this the seller deserves at least a neutral , and maybe even still a negative , since it seems most would choose copper over aluminium if given the choice . I only bought this as a spare , because I thought it was not aluminium as per his photo . I would have not bought it had I known it was not copper

Hi Rusty , Your post perfectly says what went through my mind when I opened the box and saw dull grey rather than shiny copper . I am planning on sending a PM to the seller asking if he's aware of any differences between the photo he posted and the actual product . His reply will figure prominently in my feedback for the transaction

Run the waterless coolant if you are concerned about corrosion with the aluminum aftermarket parts.

its not that were worried with corrosion. its that its a wholly inadequate part ,being made of aluminum. the replacements that are available now are sad to say the least. and apparently ,the only to get a "real" heater core is to have it made

Grenyone I read that on my issue of Pontiac high performance magazine waterless coolant is the way to go I also need to replace my heater core I can care less of aluminum or copper replace it and be done with it that's what I'm going to do

The pipes on the vista pro cores are adjustable. They are o ringed and can pivot slightly.
I got mine to fit just fine, it will roast you out of the car.

Thanks for the FYI!

2 additional potentials for a leak where none exist. No thanks.