Well the original looks to finally be on its way out, found a few drops of coolant on kick panel when checking PROM chip. Any recommendations for a quality replacement?? I would like to avoid the spectra because I’ve read on here of poor fitment. I see Hawks sells one but it’s double the rock auto offerings and am curious if anyone has tried it? Any feedback is appreciated as I have heard the aftermarket ones are not great.

 

Get your original re-cored

 

That would be ideal, the thing threw great heat in the limited fall use it saw, the aftermarkets don’t put out as much heat I heard and fit is not good either. I will check around my area for a radiator shop, I’m in the sticks but might get lucky.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if all the aftermarket cores are coming from the same factory. Some people have had reasonable results using the aluminum replacements. You might get lucky when you remove the existing core, it might just have a broken solder joint, or a pinhole leak in a spot that can be repaired without a recore. Sometimes the joints where the tubes meet the end cap like to crack, in which case it's easy enough to heat up the joint with a torch and reflow the solder. If you have any doubts, try to find a radiator shop to do the work for you.

 

I ordered spectra and vista-pro cores,neither fit without hacking core panels,so I ended to resolder original core pipes->hassle free installation.

 

I emailed Hawks to see what they had to say in regards to the heater core they sell that supposedly has 2 extra accessories that makes install very easy. Will let you guys know what I find out. Also got the name of a local radiator shop that I’ve heard good things about, will have to check with them as well.

 

Called a local radiator place who said he can't even get the materials to re-core the original so that's out especially with the current situation I am not gonna travel far, also never heard back from Hawks (upon closer inspection it looked like a Spectra anyway), but I hit eBay hard and found a new old replacement stock heater core for it for around $43, looks like an old 4 seasons brand still in the box and it looks exactly like the original judging by photos. If anyone is interested there were also several used originals as well on there for prices ranging $20 to $100.