Heater Core Brand Recommendation

The price of a heater core for a 1990 Chevy Beretta 3.1 L with air
conditioning ranges from $30 to $110. The GM part is $85 from GM Parts
Direct.

Anyone have any recommendation as to brand or source for a quality
heater core? I am assuming that price = quality and that I should steer
clear of the low end heater core. Is that correct? Is the GM part the
way to go?

KC wrote:
>
> The price of a heater core for a 1990 Chevy Beretta 3.1 L with air
> conditioning ranges from $30 to $110. The GM part is $85 from GM Parts
> Direct.
>
> Anyone have any recommendation as to brand or source for a quality
> heater core? I am assuming that price = quality and that I should steer
> clear of the low end heater core. Is that correct? Is the GM part the
> way to go?

The copper one is the way to go.
Copper core, fins, tanks, and pipes.
With real solder.

On Wed, 11 May 2005 00:58:47 GMT, "« Paul »" >
wrote:

>KC wrote:
>>
>> The price of a heater core for a 1990 Chevy Beretta 3.1 L with air
>> conditioning ranges from $30 to $110. The GM part is $85 from GM Parts
>> Direct.
>>
>> Anyone have any recommendation as to brand or source for a quality
>> heater core? I am assuming that price = quality and that I should steer
>> clear of the low end heater core. Is that correct? Is the GM part the
>> way to go?
>
>The copper one is the way to go.
>Copper core, fins, tanks, and pipes.
>With real solder.

I agree the soldered metal core is the best. They're usually
brass, not copper.

the fly wrote:
> =

> On Wed, 11 May 2005 00:58:47 GMT, "=AB Paul =BB" >
> wrote:
> =

> >KC wrote:
> >>
> >> The price of a heater core for a 1990 Chevy Beretta 3.1 L with air
> >> conditioning ranges from $30 to $110. The GM part is $85 from GM Par=
ts
> >> Direct.
> >>
> >> Anyone have any recommendation as to brand or source for a quality
> >> heater core? I am assuming that price =3D quality and that I should =
steer
> >> clear of the low end heater core. Is that correct? Is the GM part th=
e
> >> way to go?
> >
> >The copper one is the way to go.
> >Copper core, fins, tanks, and pipes.
> >With real solder.
> =

> I agree the soldered metal core is the best. They're usually
> brass, not copper.

Yes. Brazed brass tubes and tanks w/ copper fins.

Thanks for the advice guys.

>From what I have found so far for my year and model car, if a copper
core is available, it is only available for cars without air
conditioning, and an aluminum core is availbale for cars with air
conditioning (my has air).

I was going to go with a core from the local NAPA store, but their
price (under $30) had me wondering about the quality. I'm considering
just buying an AC/Delco core for $80 and being done with it..

"KC" > wrote in message
oups.com...

> I was going to go with a core from the local NAPA store, but their
> price (under $30) had me wondering about the quality. I'm considering
> just buying an AC/Delco core for $80 and being done with it..

When a dealership is involved, price does not necessarily mean that you are
getting higher
quality. Dealership markup is often 2-3 times, or even more, what you
would pay for the
same or better part from an aftermarket source. Not all aftermarket stuff
is good either.

NAPA is usually a very reliable source.

If the GM part is brass, then I would go with it. Otherwise go for an
aftermarket brass core.

What benefits does brass offer over aluminum? Based on what several
people have said, that is the superior material. I'm just wondering
what makes it better.

In any event, it seems as though my decision has been made for me. My
car has air conditioning. So far, the brass heater cores are available
only for non-airconditioned cars. If the car has air, the heater core
is aluminum.

Looks like the choice was made for you. I wasn't aware that aluminum
was available.

Make sure it's not made in a thirld world country too!