Is it dumb to put the rear heater core in the middle of the truck?

[gvxclassics]

Assembling this 1974 40. It was taken apart for paint 5 years ago. Upon reassembly, the painted heater core is now leaking and running across the floor- towards the Stereo amplifiers placed under the drivers seat. EGADS! The leak seems to be at the bottom of the heater core as it is wet down there.
So, I need to repair or replace the heater core, but I am not looking forward to opening the cooling system between brand new seats with the new electronics underneath.
I'm planning on crimping the hoses and being very careful, and yanking the sucker out for repair or replace.
Anyone got any ideas or sources. I found one used on Ebay, but, it may also leak, no guarantees.

If you are restoring a vehicle, you have to be anal on every component, so after you assemble the painted parts, all the non painted parts don't have their own issues.
No sign of leakage of the main heater core, but I haven't really looked either.

 

[AZMoonshadow]

Radiator shops should be able to fix the rear heater core. I had mine fixed about 10 years ago.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Mine didn't come with a rear heater. I built a wood box to house the free heater with motor that came out a 17 place chevy van. Total investment was like $20 for wood, switch and hose.
People would beg me to turn that heater off.

 

[JohnnyC]

The closest I have found to oem rear heater cores are ones that the Brit stuff run... made by clayton... The heater line inlet and outlet is wrong ... but... the core is circular

Late 40's 50's chevys also had the circular heater cores ... rounds but air travels the wrong way through them

Both you can get the cores ... but... expensive

You will not find replacement cores.... unless they are used and/or had been repaired before... try vendors here or want ad here

it could be seperating from the inlet or outlet tanks.... but... its most likely split on one of the core tubes... by kids were notorious in stepping on it and crushing them had to build a cover to protect it lol both of which are repairable

 

[Green Bean]

This is timely. One of the inlet/outlet pipes recently broke off our rear heater core. There weren't any radiator shops nearby. I spoke with Mike at Mr. Radiator and he assured me that he would be able to silver solder it so I mailed it off to him. He said there is about a 1 week turn around.

 

[Mike Shull]

As AZmooon mentioned, I’ve also had mine repaired at least twice since 1978. They are very simple setups.

FYI, you may know this already but it looks like your air deflector is on backwards. You may have done this on purpose to direct more air to the front. Common.

 

[pb4ugo]

You should try putting a wanted ad in the classified section.

 

[Green Bean]

Also, you probably already know this but the hoses that go to/from the rear heater are 1/2” not 5/8”. Is it possible that the leaking is occurring from the hoses not getting a proper seal?

 

[gvxclassics]

As AZmooon mentioned, I’ve also had mine repaired at least twice since 1978. They are very simple setups.

FYI, you may know this already but it looks like your air deflector is on backwards. You may have done this on purpose to direct more air to the front. Common.

It matches my front grill, or, Ugh, used to before I got set straight here also about dat.