i used the aluminum one, this is my 4th heater core replacment (not for this truck 1 was a 88 tbird, a friends VW, 93 blazer, and then my dodge here) and all so far have been aluminum they work just fine, never had an issue, and no it did not come with foam, they never do, atleast in my experiences, i just go to wal-marts craft section and buy the foam and glue it on no big deal......the copper/brass one you are talkin about i considered buying it, but like I mentioned ive never had issues with the regular aluminum ones so i didnt see paying double the price for it. The copper one you are reffering to has the same crimped on tubing, the tubing has to move in order to slide them in and out of the cradle they sit in just before the firewall, makes install twice as easy since you dont have to pull the whole heater box out.

 

OK, not busting your ***** here, but there's an old saying: "You get what you pay for".

With that in mind, I am curious. Was the aluminum core you have the one with the crimped fittings for the supply and return line and that those lines could be rotated? That left me very uneasy about it's reliability. I do agree about the foam and have already been shopping around for foam to wrap the new heater core. The quality and contruction of the aluminum core, to me, left a lot to be desired. I have done heater core replacements before (the Ford Escort was an absolute joy[:@]) but I bet the one in my Cavalier will be LESS of a pain than the one for the Dodge.

 

mine was and aluminum with the crimped supply and return i was also a little worried but not too concerned also i didnt use foam... felt no real reason

 

no prob VW, i understand the "get what you pay for" but in this instance i didnt feel it necessary to pay double, the crimped joints your talkin about are required because once u slide the core into the box the tubes/arms w/e you wanna call them need to rotate in order not to bend them because of the little cradle they rest in in order to go through the firewall, once you do the replacment youll understand what i mean, but i do agree with you, ill probably be replacing mine long before you do, but im running on an E-5 budget here lol (active duty navy) and i could only find the copper or brass one (whichever it was made of) for $150-$175 as opposed to the aluminum $67 with old man winter coming around the corneri didnt want to wait

 

I was once active duty as an E-5 as well

 

good to hear it, ill be getting out after 8 years active in 2008 dont feel like putting up with this new 'Corporate Military' crap anymore been to iraq 3 times and thats enough for me, and not to get way off topic but just curious what branch did you serve?

 

Jeez Indy, just take the box offthe back.There's like 8 bolts holding it on and it takes about 4 people to get it off.

Sooner or later you're gonna be asking if straight water is lighter than antifreeze, and who makes the lightest ATF.

 

lol or just go buy a motorcycle...instant 10 on the quarter....just add gas lol well unless u drive that crazy viper motor inspired concept bike, then its instant death just add throttle

 

Heh, I can derail a thread. I did seven years in the USN, three of which were on CVN-70. I've done two West-Pacs and a Pac-Ex. I got out because of the social experiments with women on ships (sorry, they don't belong there) and TQM, which was a complete circle jerk.

 

just finished my heater core tonight ... and yes i used the aluminum crimped supply and return pipes, also changed my thermostat to a 180 degree, runs super cool... anyway i ran it and had no leaks so far...