Heater core and blower motor

[Kevin Bisgrove]

69 GTX 440. Non AC.
I am planning to send my heater core and blower motor for restoration.

I'm in Victoria so fairly limited but there is a shop around still. They said about $300can to recore/restore.
Not sure about the blower motor yet but I have a recommendation for someone.
My question surrounds originality and matching for my car.
My original heater box was not great so I bought another one. The heater core in the new one is thicker and different fins then mine. Not sure either would fit differently or not but even the tanks are not the same size.
It's one actually a repop? My radiator fins seem to match the larger heater core.
I am going for as close to original as I can.
Thoughts on the heater cores?
Attached photos.

My blower motor - original from my car has 12V written in larger letters while the other one doesn't have that. Numbers between the units generally seem to match otherwise but also a couple of different markings on the top. They are "slightly different".
Has one been replaced?
Thoughts?

 

[gkent]

Why not do the motor yourself? Pull it apart and clean it up. clean the commutator in a drill press or even an electric drill. The bearings are likely still good and the brushes can still be had through an electric motor repair shop - if needed. Keep in mind that for the rest of its life it will see minimal use so pissing money away on something that you can't see is crazy.

I wouldn't even rebuild the core. clean it up and look it over then do a pressure test in a bucket of water. If it doesn't leak, put everything back together. OR just buy a replacement aftermarket core - for a fraction of what you've been quoted.

 

[Kevin Bisgrove]

Why not do the motor yourself? Pull it apart and clean it up. clean the commutator in a drill press or even an electric drill. The bearings are likely still good and the brushes can still be had through an electric motor repair shop - if needed. Keep in mind that for the rest of its life it will see minimal use so pissing money away on something that you can't see is crazy.

I wouldn't even rebuild the core. clean it up and look it over then do a pressure test in a bucket of water. If it doesn't leak, put everything back together. OR just buy a replacement aftermarket core - for a fraction of what you've been quoted.

Fair points.
Any experience with the aftermarket units? Freezing the fit is not great and that connecting the hoses is an issue due to shorter pipes?
I'd be nervous to just put the core back in but I guess that's what the pressure test is for.

I have 2 blower fans so maybe I'll tackle that. What is the commutator and how would you clean it with a drill?

 

[rich hourigan]

for what its worth i sent my heater core to Glennray for a check up and it came back looking brand new for a reasonable price..... piece of mind..priceless

 

[Kevin Bisgrove]

for what its worth i sent my heater core to Glennray for a check up and it came back looking brand new for a reasonable price..... piece of mind..priceless

Just thinking I am a VERY long way from Glenn Ray. Maybe I'll look into shipping costs. Better piece of mind for me I think to either replace or rebuild!

 

[gkent]

The commutator is the copper part on the armature that the brushes contact. Its usually has some wear and signs of heat. You mount the armature in a drill and turn it. If the comm has heavy wear I hold a file to the comm as it turns to smooth it out (doesn't have to be perfect). Then polish with sandpaper - usually finish with emery cloth. Then with a fine knife or pick, clean the crud out of the grooves. Then one final turn with the emery in case there are any burrs from cleaning the grooves. A dab of oil on the bearings is about all they'll need.

Did you measure the fan height before you took it all apart ?!?!?

 

[gkent]

Do both motor have the hole for the tube?

 

[Kevin Bisgrove]

The commutator is the copper part on the armature that the brushes contact. Its usually has some wear and signs of heat. You mount the armature in a drill and turn it. If the comm has heavy wear I hold a file to the comm as it turns to smooth it out (doesn't have to be perfect). Then polish with sandpaper - usually finish with emery cloth. Then with a fine knife or pick, clean the crud out of the grooves. Then one final turn with the emery in case there are any burrs from cleaning the grooves. A dab of oil on the bearings is about all they'll need.

Did you measure the fan height before you took it all apart ?!?!?

I did not measure it. As far as I could tell it just gets pushed tight to the backing plate no?
I'll have a look at my motor Inn the next few days maybe and circle back if I have a question for you!

 

[Kevin Bisgrove]

Do both motor have the hole for the tube?

Yes they do

 

[rich hourigan]

i understand... i didnt realise you were up north

 

[gkent]

here ...

 

[Kilrbee]

I believe Glen-Ray is about $100.00 for re-core/ restore a non A/C heater core...

 

[dadsbee]

Got to be a local rad shop that can pressure test and repair if necessary on that core... hopefully you have a dinosaur left out there, we have ONE left in town and sad thing is when his father is gone.. so will the repair side of the business.

 

[gkent]

KEVIN ... I thought the name was familiar. You bought one of my rotisseries !!!

 

[Kilrbee]

Looking at the corrosion on the heater cores I can see that both have bad/ leaking cores. I wouldn't waste any time testing them just have the correct one re-cored and have the piece of mind knowing that you will not have to do the job twice.

 

[Kevin Bisgrove]

Got to be a local rad shop that can pressure test and repair if necessary on that core... hopefully you have a dinosaur left out there, we have ONE left in town and sad thing is when his father is gone.. so will the repair side of the business.

Same with over here. If Glenn Ray is $100ish, it may still be worth sending to him.

 

[Kevin Bisgrove]

Looking at the corrosion on the heater cores I can see that both have bad/ leaking cores. I wouldn't waste any time testing them just have the correct one re-cored and have the piece of mind knowing that you will not have to do the job twice.

Agreed!

 

[Kevin Bisgrove]

here ...

View attachment 1013949 View attachment 1013950

Thank you. I'll check what mine come to.

 

[Kevin Bisgrove]

KEVIN ... I thought the name was familiar. You bought one of my rotisseries !!!

Yes I did!!
Car is still mounted to it. Sounds great once I got it properly balanced!

 

[gkent]

Heater core: RockAuto $65. Canadian
Blower motor: RockAuto $38. Canadian

You could even the guts out of the new blower motor and put them in your motor housing - after you're stripped it and painted it.

Beats the hell out of paying $300 U.S. for the sole satisfaction of "being original".

Keep in mind nobody's going to see this ****.