View Full Version : Copper heater cores
a0chicken
08-30-2004, 05:35 AM
I haven't been able to see any good up close pictures of an 86 chevette core, just curious if it has copper pipes. If not, do you dudes know of any relatively small (6 x 7 inches, or so) heatercores with copper pipes?
saratoga
08-30-2004, 08:46 AM
Thats the core dTek sells, right? If so it has brass pipes and copper fins. Actually most American made heatercores are brass pipes and copper fins.
a0chicken
08-30-2004, 08:47 AM
Alrighty then. How bad would corrosion be with a Copper block and Brass pipes? Could I put a mix of Distilled and like 5 or 10% Anti Freeze to stop corrosion?
Edit: Or maybe not Antifreeze..
Gogeta
08-30-2004, 09:21 AM
Any antifreeze/coolant will stop corrosion. The Prestone antifreeze I used says right on the label, "Provides immediate protection on all cooling system metals."
a0chicken
08-30-2004, 09:22 AM
Alright, so what ratio would you reccomend with distilled?
freecableguy
08-31-2004, 09:31 AM
less than 5%
a0chicken
08-31-2004, 09:32 AM
Alrighty, 5%
Thanks.
saratoga
09-02-2004, 08:44 PM
Brass is a type of copper with zinc added as an anticorrosive and to increase strength. It will not react with copper as it is >80% copper.
a0chicken
09-03-2004, 04:15 AM
I'm still gonna add 5%, I'm not gonna risk my waterblock/s :o
2Busy
09-05-2004, 07:49 PM
Originally posted by saratoga
Thats the core dTek sells, right? If so it has brass pipes and copper fins. Actually most American made heatercores are brass pipes and copper fins.
Nearly all older model cars made in the US are copper cores. However, upon visiting behind the counter at a local auto parts house, you would be shocked to see how many are now aluminum. I went in to a location with fedco numbers in hand, and they had GDI cores. So, they allowed me to look. About 25 per cent or so of what I saw were aluminum. It always pays to open the box and look before you leave the store.
nikhsub1
09-05-2004, 08:38 PM
Originally posted by Gogeta
Any antifreeze/coolant will stop corrosion. The Prestone antifreeze I used says right on the label, "Provides immediate protection on all cooling system metals." Easy there, it will not stop corrosion, just delay it. 5% wont do jack for corrosion anyway, you need much more, 50%. Even then it will only slow it down, which is why running aluminum with copper is very bad. Brass (as mentioned) is fine, is typically 70% copper 30% zinc.
freecableguy
09-05-2004, 09:45 PM
He said copper and brass. He doesn't need 50%!
chilly1
09-05-2004, 10:33 PM
I have cores suitable for water that are 4X6X3 with 6 rows deep. 3/8 inch copper.
optimummind
09-14-2004, 12:59 AM
Here is what the '86 Chevy Chevette heatercore looks like. I just bought one myself yesterday for my DangerDen NV-68 loop.
http://img17.exs.cx/img17/7972/86Chevycore02.jpg
Same core after I installed the barb fittings.
http://img17.exs.cx/img17/1228/86Chevycore.jpg
saratoga
09-16-2004, 11:42 PM
Why are the barbs different sizes?
optimummind
09-17-2004, 01:07 AM
Why are the barbs different sizes?
The barbs from the heatercore are of 2 different sizes--1/2" and 3/8".
In order to install the barb, I needed a 3/8" X 1/2" and 3/8?" x 3/8" barb to FNP fittings. However, Home Depot didn't have the 3/8" x 1/2" part.
So, I had to settle for the 1/2" x 1/2" barb to FNP fittings.
Fortunately, I can slide my 3/8" ID tubing over the 1/2" barb with no problem.
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