Hi Steve, I agree with Scott, replace every hose! When you replace the thermostat, do NOT use the one piece unit. If you use the older style with a separate housing and thermostat...and a thermostat fails, you can buy a replacement at any auto parts store. If you have the one piece unit you're stuck. While you're at it, put in the hottest one you can find, 190 or 195 degrees. Everything will work better. Oh, new heater valve too. Don't rule out shipping your core to have it fixed out of your area. Stevan Thomas 73 Berlina 83 GTV6 In a message dated 4/11/2012 11:32:56 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:23:04 -0400 From: Scott Shure <[email protected]> Subject: [alfa] RE: Heater core fitment - Spider vs. GTV Hello Steve, Others will be able to tell you if a Spider heater core will fit. I would call either IAP or Centerline and ask them though, they know. A couple of things come to mind. $300 for a heater core is not outrageous but I agree it is a lot of money. You might see if you can get a second shop to price it. I use a local guy who works on truck radiators; you might have to do some digging along those lines to find a 2nd shop in the same town. Regardless of your source I recommend you pressure test the entire system before you compete your install. I was way into a car last summer to replace a heater core, as in I had to do a lot of dis-assembly. I installed a brand new part out of the box from a reliable supplier that I have had good success with. Nearly 1-1/2 hours of reassembly later I pressure tested the system - and found the heater core had a huge leak. Sure the supplier replaced it but not my lost time. Dummy me! Especially considering I had all the tools to do it within reach. It should not be difficult to pressure test. You can install a truck tire valve in the old radiator cap (you were going to replace it anyway, right?) I can give you specifics if you contact me off line. Basically, I recommend you plumb the entire system and pressurize it before you put everything back together. If it holds for 10 minutes you are set. If not, a bottle of soapy water or someone's good hearing will locate the leaks quickly. And I would replace every hose involved plus the thermostat, etc all at the same time. Scott Shure 85 GTV-6 Baltimore, MD > Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2012 13:59:52 -0400 (EDT) > From:[email protected] > Subject: [alfa] Heater core fitment - Spider vs. GTV > > Hi all. I'm currently rebuilding the heater box in my '72 GTV& I've got > a question about heater core fitment. My core was leaking a bit& in > looking on IAP& Centerlines site, neither carry replacement cores. > > I took my core to the local radiator shop to have them price rebuilding > it. The owner just called& was ashamed to say the core itself was $250!!!! > It would be over $300 said& done. > > That being said I'm looking into finding a useable core somewhere else (IE > find one on a car someone is parting). > > I've found one that looks right based on pictures, but I'm not sure. I'm > waiting for the seller to get back to me with price. It's advertised as > fitting a '74-94 Spider& the owner wasn't sure about fitment on a GTV. > > Does anyone here know if this core will work, and if not is there any year > spider core that will since those seem to be a little more common than the > GTVs? > > Thanks. > > Steve in Balboa, CA -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
