10-30-2020, 03:16 AM | #1 |
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Vintage Heater
I installed a 40's vintage heater in my coupe years ago.
I recently added an aftermarket radiator with a 7lb cap & I wanted to know if the heater core could handle the pressure. I have a second core that I'll take to my radiator shop for testing and cleaning. I'd like your thoughts on this core being able to handle the pressure. Thank you Joe |
10-30-2020, 05:21 AM | #2 |
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Re: Vintage Heater
My suggestion is to remove and have it pressure tested. I took the rad and heater core from my '46 to a rad shop and had them, cleaned, flushed and pressure tested. I forgot to ask the rad shop what pressure they were tested to. A coolant leak in the engine compartment is bad enough, but one in the interior is nasty! Not sure what year your car is, but the EFV-8 book, 1941 to 46, pages 5-18/19, lists 3.5 to 4.5 PSI until April 1947. Carpenter lists P/N 41A-8100 at 4PSI "Exact to original", which is what I installed. Not sure why you are considering 7 PSI, if Henry figured 4 PSI would do the job. I have had no "boil off" issues, and I am running 180 deg. stats.
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10-30-2020, 07:13 AM | #3 |
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Re: Vintage Heater
Some people just seem to get pleasure from overthinking a problem.
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10-30-2020, 07:31 AM | #4 |
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Re: Vintage Heater
Heater cores can be a safety issue if not in good shape. A friend of mine had a very nice 65 Comet. The heater core blew while he was driving spraying hot coolant on his legs! Caused him to loose control and total the car!!
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10-30-2020, 04:12 PM | #5 |
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Re: Vintage Heater
It really has nothing to do with over thinking a problem. I decide to go with an aftermarket radiator with a pressurized system is all. I have the lowest pressure cap I could find for the radiator and was looking for some input. I can easily buy an aftermarket heater core but I like the look of my 40's heater.
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10-30-2020, 04:27 PM | #6 |
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Re: Vintage Heater
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10-30-2020, 06:53 PM | #7 |
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Re: Vintage Heater
Rather than all the hassle of removing heater etc to get it pressure tested, how about disconnecting the hoses that run to/from it under the hood, plug one end of one hose, couple the other hose end somehow to a compressed air supply, via a regulator and pressure gauge. Slowly increase pressure up to say 8 psi. if it holds air pressure at that pressure, it'll be fine at your rated 7 lb coolant pressure.
Obviously, if it fails this test, you'll be back to removing the entire heater assembly!
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10-31-2020, 04:29 AM | #8 | |
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Re: Vintage Heater
Quote:
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