Chevy Heater Core

Nebulous · Nov 21, 2016

As luck would have it, my 480 runs a tad on the hot side, lol! I added the MCW82 to my loop, but my 360 is getting overwhelmed with the heatload and is just not enough to tame the savage 480. I've been saving my pennies to add another rad be it a 240/280 or another 360. I was in the middle of purchasing an XSPC EX360 rad from S_I_N, but unfortunately he stated it leaked like crazy :-/

So I decided to go old school and add a Chevy Heater Core to the loop for the video card. Picked up a new copper/brass one off flebay for less than $25 shipped. A little modding/painting and it'll be good to go.

I'll be able to use my current 140mm fans in push/pull. Maybe make a fan shroud or 2 if needed.

Gotta luv old school cooling

Should arrive in a few days. I'll keep this thread updated-

EarthDog · Nov 21, 2016

Sweeet!! Can't wait to see more!

But, how does a 360 rad not handle an rx480? EDIT: oh, cpu is in the loop...

What temps are you getting on it?

GTXJackBauer · Nov 21, 2016

For a second, I thought he meant the savage Fermi GTX 480s. lol If that was the case, I completely understood.

LutaWicasa · Nov 21, 2016

Old skool FTW :thup:

Nebulous · Nov 21, 2016

EarthDog said:
Sweeet!! Can't wait to see more!

But, how does a 360 rad not handle an rx480? EDIT: oh, cpu is in the loop...

What temps are you getting on it?

Temps under heavy gaming climb to the mid 70's

I can feel the hot air come out the back of the case. I put my palm on the res and can actually feel it super warm as well.

GTXJackBauer said:
For a second, I thought he meant the savage Fermi GTX 480s. lol If that was the case, I completely understood.

Yeah I had a pair of GTX 480's in SLI. Man those guys really put out heat!

LutaWicasa said:
Old skool FTW

Oh yeah!

Alaric · Nov 21, 2016

I'm liking this already. Do we get pics when it's done?

Nebulous · Nov 22, 2016

Alaric said:
I'm liking this already. Do we get pics when it's done?

Indeed!

Silver_Pharaoh · Nov 23, 2016

I'm in! Sub'd!

Replacing the 240 rad with something like this would be sweet!

BugFreak · Nov 25, 2016

Love it! I used to get such a kick out of the looks I would get at the auto parts store when buying these and asked what car I was using it for.

Nebulous · Nov 29, 2016

Just got my heater core today. Looks really good too! Still have to cut down the inlet and outlet piping, attach barbs and paint. Then mount it in the case.

Alaric · Nov 29, 2016

That does look nice. What fans are you using? That looks like pretty dense packaging.

wagex · Nov 29, 2016

i still have a pretty yuge heater core i scored off the classifieds a few years ago i used it for benching thing was a beast.

Nebulous · Nov 29, 2016

Alaric said:
That does look nice. What fans are you using? That looks like pretty dense packaging.

Gonna use the 140mm phanteks that came with my primo. Doesn't look too dense. I'm sure with some med fans in push/pull it'll do nicely

wagex said:
i still have a pretty yuge heater core i scored off the classifieds a few years ago i used it for benching thing was a beast.

Dang that looks NIIIICE! You still have it I hope?

Picked up a few supplies from my local wally. Got my dremel ready too. Gotta have my munchies as well. A man can't mod without it

Silver_Pharaoh · Nov 29, 2016

I love how square it is. That's the one thing i hate about most rads, they have rounded edges...
Almost want to sell my rads and pickup some new EK rads just to have nice looking rads lol

But if I get a few of these hmmmmm

ssjwizard · Nov 29, 2016

wagex said:
i still have a pretty yuge heater core i scored off the classifieds a few years ago i used it for benching thing was a beast.
View attachment 185581

Those heater cores were extremely popular around 02-04ish. Matter of factly I sold several of them myself when I got out of water cooling back around that time here on these very forums.

Looking forward to how your project comes out Neb

Nebulous · Nov 30, 2016

Thx wiz!

*Update*

Started my day with coffee, meds (of course,lol), and a sammich.

1) Get dremel ready- Check
2) Cut down tubes - Done
3) Check fit of barbs- Looks good to me

4) Clean/prep the stubs (inside and out with green scrubby pad)
5) Clean/prep brass fittings that will go inside
6) Check my work-Done
7) Reward myself with Chips-Ahoys

So far so good. Next is to mix up a batch of JB-Weld and seat my fittings.

rcillig · Nov 30, 2016

haha I literally just was digging through a box in my closet a bit ago and found my first radiator... was going to post here and found your thread..... the golden oldies! I was so proud when I made that first rig and he didn't leak. I remember being so worried about leaks.

ssjwizard · Nov 30, 2016

JB Weld is good stuff ive used it on many a project. Personally though I would have desoldered those flares and used NPT threaded fittings in their place, but so long as it creates a reliable seal who cares right?

Nebulous · Nov 30, 2016

rcillig said:
haha I literally just was digging through a box in my closet a bit ago and found my first radiator... was going to post here and found your thread..... the golden oldies! I was so proud when I made that first rig and he didn't leak. I remember being so worried about leaks.

Oh yeah! Talk about oldies! I found pics one of my first heater cores in a P4 (478) rig.

ssjwizard said:
JB Weld is good stuff ive used it on many a project. Personally though I would have desoldered those flares and used NPT threaded fittings in their place, but so long as it creates a reliable seal who cares right?

Yeah I know, but that meant buying more tools. Trying to keep costs down. Used JB Weld on other heater cores and it worked like a charm with zero leaks!

Now onto the JB Welding!

1) Cleaned off stubs with alcohol and q-tips
2) Dang that's nasty dirty! Clean as a whistle tho!
3) Barbs installed with trusty JB-Weld

Next up, paint.

Silver_Pharaoh · Nov 30, 2016

ssjwizard said:
JB Weld is good stuff ive used it on many a project. Personally though I would have desoldered those flares and used NPT threaded fittings in their place, but so long as it creates a reliable seal who cares right?

Plus paint makes it look pretty in the end anyway! :thup:

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