heatercore

[I.M.O.G.]

hey all... if i were to be getting a heatercore from a used autoparts place, are there any recommendations on car models/years to take the HC off of?

And after i would take the HC off, how should it be cleaned (inside) or should i take it to another auto place and get it flushed real well before i begin to use it in my loop?

thats it, thanks!

[Syk0tiK]

just buy a reconditioned or new heatercore from an autoparts store. They are only like 20$ and you dont have to clean them or worry about leaks.

I use a 1984 Ford F150 heatercore, it fits 2 120mm fans with a shroud.

[I.M.O.G.]

well i was also sort of asking because all the new HC's ive looked at are made of brass and i was hoping for a better metal for heat transfer perhaps (if there are any models that have heatercores not made of brass). im talking non-collectors items here too, ive heard of a HC from 1948 or something made of copper but i want something i can find?

[Hoot]

Granted copper is a little better than brass, but with a typical heater core (brass) there is so much surface area, its not a factor worth of a lot of hunting about to find one made of copper. Throw a pair of 120x38mm 85cfm fans on it in a push-pull sandwich and it'll keep the water about 2c above room air with your CPU running full load, even with the speed reduced to almost inaudible using a rheostat.

As inexpensive as new heater cores are, I would never build a setup around a used one. Why introduce that kind of variable into a system you worked so hard to design and optimize. Just my opinion...

Hoot

[I.M.O.G.]

just the input i was looking for, thanks my friend. :) :beer:

[Daemonfly]

Just get whatever model fits best into your case. The one I have is a 87 Ford Escort w/AC - it fits well in my no-name case. Theres a lot of catalogs on the net, and procooling.com 's forums have a database (search for it). But, regretfully, none of the measurements include the end caps, just the core itself.

The heatercores are made with brass for structural purposes. Also, the brass is still thin and doesn't really affect cooling that much. The fins themselves are copper.

[walkerIV]

For general info on brass:
http://www.nbm-houston.com/metals/brass340.html

Given the thickness of the walls and fins the difference between brass and copper heat transfer rates is probably rather negligable given the large surface area. Something along the lines of having a silver waterblock instead of copper ones.

[I.M.O.G.]

cool, thanks. i had wondered if there were any considerable variables with heatercores we were missing, but it seems there really isnt. see ya around. :)

[Toysrme]

I suggest a little different that a lot of others. Look up a heater core that both your demensional size AND barb size here (http://www.heatercore4u.com/Make.htm)

Then just run to a chain auto parts store and buy one. (Or have them order it for you) Just so long as you're not in the Antarctic, if they don't have it in stock it'll be there in two bis days.

-Toysrme

[I.M.O.G.]

ohhh nice link, thanks!