heater core

[rmk57]

  Can you still buy new heater cores for 1957 Fords? Mine started leaking around
the inlet /outlet tube. If not, could the tube be resolderd?

[57 Ford Kustom]

Mine leaked when I got the car . pulled it out and found that the valve seal was bad. But if it is a outlet a radiator shop can fix it for you.

TOM

[rmk57]

It's the outlet tube leaking, the joint where it's soldered came loose. I've got some silver solder so I'm going to see if I can patch it up.
What function does that valve perform?

[57 Ford Kustom]

The valve regulates the amount of hot water flowing thru the heater core depending on the position of the dash lever. And is run by vacuum .


TOM

[bagboy]

might be a good idea to use soft soder. Any good rad. shop can recore your heater.

[rmk57]

  I see how it works now. Problem with mine is the mechanism that regulates the
flow at the valve is gone. I looks like I'll have full heat all the time until I find
some missing parts.

[57 Ford Kustom]

Mine was missing the vacuum /mechanical valve when I got my car found one on ePay. You also can put a valve in the heater hose and turn it off in the summer.

TOM

[57AGIN]

rmk57:

Here is a picture of what I wound up doing with my heater mechanical shut off valve.  I never liked the look of the original 57's mechanical shut off valve.  Since I was going to run my coolant to & from the radiator through Cool-Flex tubing, I decided to use a Russell shut off valve.  It works great and is easy to open/close.  I keep it shut most of the time, unless going to an early morning car show or the beach during infrequent cold spells.

Bob
57AGIN

[smurfee]

  On my fordor custom on the engine side of the firewall next to the heater sticking out there is a ess shaped wier, if you pull it forward it turns your heater on - if you push it rearward it turns the heater off SMURFEE

[rmk57]

  I like the idea of the shut off valve. I think that's the way I'm going to go, the
cars only driven in summer anyway. Thanks for the input.

[bagboy]

I was lucky , got a spare -new in box

[rmk57]

 I ended up getting it re-cored, so it should be good for another 50 years.
But I am going to install a ball valve until I can find the missing parts.