So I recently did a heater core on my 92. Had been leaking forever. Finally got tired of it. Well, I got one from AutoZone and it was a perfect replica. No cutting of plastic, no bending, even the foam already on the core was correct. Was even able to reinstall the metal clips. I just popped it in and my wife aligned the tubes with the firewall holes via a long screwdriver. Once both tubes were aligned I gave it a push and the tubes come out just as far as the OEMs. So I thought I'd share.
Duralast 399083

 

Looks like it has finally been improved.

 

Yup, I was impressed. Last time I did one of these it wasn't nearly as easy. I think I paid around $60 for it.

 

I'm interested in how much heat you get out of your new one during the winter. I replaced my original with an aftermarket aluminum like that years ago and had no complaint about fit, my issue is with low heat output. Same issue on several other different vehicles too.

 

My 97 Express and 99 Tahoe both have aluminum cores like that in them. Tahoe has an aftermarket. It will blast you out with heat and has a 180F thermostat in it. The van would bake you out with a 170F and now has a 195F because of the aluminum headed engine in it now liking to run a bit warmer than the old iron vortecs. If it is low heat output you have an issue somewhere other than the core. The thin aluminum tubes transfer heat very well compared to the thicker copper/brass tubes. The sealing foam is important on both the heater core and evaporator. Has to be the correct density, thickness and in the right spot or else a lot of the air just bypasses the cores without getting heated or cooled.

 

Well this thread WAS about a Thirdgen, but nice of you to veer it off topic into van land.

I have a theory about the aftermarket replacement in my Thirdgen. Given that i had the dash completely apart and replaced every foam seal, and given that when I replaced the heater core shortly thereafter and the only change from lots of heat to low heat output was the heater core, and given the fact that I also know what Im doing, I have always believed it was insufficient flow through the new heater core (caused by poor or faulty workmanship in the new heater core factory). Hence why I was interested in someone else's experience with said new heater core.

I now see what the real problem is. Apparently I should have bought an Express van instead of a thirdgen. It seems those things are just miracles of invention. Amazing a/c systems, blazing hot heaters, incredible gas mileage, horsepower out the whazoo, and driveshafts that won't pole-vault a 305. I know a guy who is really into those things. Literally can't have a conversation with him about anything without him bringing them up. Guess I need to start van shopping.

 

Get over yourself dude. A heater is a heater core. Maybe yours was manufactured with defective but no all are. I typically use Four Seasons and have not had an issue. I assumed you were faulting the newer aluminum core because of the way it was constructed and simply gave two different examples of basically the same core and one was an aftermarket that both work great. It is not hard to test the flow through a heater core either. I have had to reverse flush everything I have ever owned that had Dexcool in it and both styles flow similarly when reverse flushed.

 

Great!

 

Yes, I am faulting the construction of the new heater core, which is why I said THIS:
You jumping into the thread and talking about the original GM heater core in your 1997 van is not contributing at all to this discussion about an aftermarket Thirdgen Camaro heater core.

 

Heater cores are only as good as the number of rows. more rows, more hear.

 

I was stating aluminum is not an issue with the core construction. Also stated that heater core flow is easy to check for. If it is not flowing it is easy to figure that out. The tubes are tiny in it and if even half of them were sealed off or restricted, it would have very little flow. Get a clean bucket, pull the return hose off, turn on the heater, start the car and watch how much flow. I would suspect the heater control valve failing before I would a heater core being made so poorly it will not heat.

 

Been driving around with it for a while now. Seems to put out plenty of heat with what I assume is a stock thermostat. About to replace the intake and TBI system with modern efi so I guess I'll find out then.

 

Thanks for the info, I just ordered one after sending what Amazon had back as the tubes were only crimped in and loose already. This one you showed pictures of looks like it's of better quality and made in TN, will see. Lifetime guarantee too!

 

Fit perfectly, thanks again!

 

Partly on this recommendation I also ordered the 399083 from Autozone for my 1986 Camaro. It shipped to my house the next day and fit perfectly as described in the post, very satisfied