A/C heater core

[fireguywtc]

Does anyone know if there was different size heater cores for factory A/C units? I was attempting to reassemble my A/C unit today and found out the heater core I got from LMC is too big. It looks the same but is over 2 inches longer so there is no way to make it fit. The factory core is about 7 inches long and the LMC one is about 9 inches long. The other demensions are the same. I tried to call them but the tech support people that actually know whats going on only work 8-5. If there is only one size I need a new vendor to get a heater core. this is one of those things that absolutley no parts stores can get. Has anyone else bought one recently? tia

[fireguywtc]

I may have answered my own question, there is only one part number listed here: http://www.fordification.com/partnos/ac ... tegral.htm

I guess we will see what LMC has to say in the morning.

[fordman]

i bet lmc messed up. i think the cores for factory a/c and the regular deluze heater box are the same except fo rthe top on them that the straight tubes comes out of. the same heater cores for the factory a/c are also the same cores used in rear a/c vans of the same era. HERE IS another thread about it. http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... UZ#p395803

[fireguywtc]

I called LMC and they did a great job in making me confused. But basically they said that something in my truck must have been changed. I gave them some of my measurements and of course their measurements included the hose fittings. I gave the lady on the phone the part# C8TZ-18476-A and she told me it she couldn't find anything listed under that part# but it applys to 80s something bronco and F series with A/C. They sent me an invoice but it looks like they want me to pay for shipping back to them. I am going to call them back after I cool down some.

[ToughOldFord]

How could a 1968 part number (C8) apply to a '80s truck??????????? Are the people at LMC this stupid?

[fireguywtc]

Yes, just as stupid to tell me I must not have my original A/C and something must have been changed. They are never at fault.

[fordman]

lmc is wrong i think. one thing you can do is to buy a regular heater core from anon a/c truck and swap tops and tubes from your old one to the new core.

[hazelnut]

I think you should take your old one to a radiator shop and have it recored, because most likely the new one is going to come from china and last about 4-5 years and have you going through the same work again. When i was reading the post the other day i thought about it when i was at car quest and asked if they had one or could get one, none in stock at any store in the US. im going to have mine recored because i know it will be the right fit when i put it back together. makes me wonder what other parts im not going to find to rebuild my A/C unit

[fordman]

the only way to recore it is to get the right sized core. my dad has a radiator shop. they can special make this core. but they don't make it any more. the only way to get it is to get the stock heater core for the heat only trucks and swap the tops on them. that is the only thing we could come up with talking to all of dads contacts. they said they would make them if we order 100 or more of them.

[fireguywtc]

For those who might be interested, I had taken a pic of the two heater cores for a comparison. The LMC one is on the left.

[fordman]

the top isn't even competely correct either.

[fireguywtc]

It looks odd on top but it fit through the holes in A/C box, its only problem I could find was the lenght.

[fordman]

are they goign to fix this mess up or what are they going to do? charge you to return it?

[fireguywtc]

I called LMC today and they told me the got their heater core back and not quite sure if they are going to get me a new one yet or not. The guy on the phone told me he turned over my problem over to their quality control to see if they put the wrong core on the shelf or if they are making it to the wrong demensions, etc. I took my old core to the local radiator shop and oredered a new core for a non-ac unit. The radiator shop is going to do like fordman said and put my old top tank on the new core. This is really the only way because the old core has signs of leaking and needs to be replaced.

[fireguywtc]

LMC called me back today and gave me some resolution. They were pretty nice about it but I still think they are being stupid. They told me that there are two types of factory AC, one that came from the factory and then another that came from a Ford authorized installer between the factory and the dealerships. Either way they said the only core they have is core size 8"tall x 6"wide x 2"thick. Mine is 6x6x2. I told them I looked mine up with a few other places and they all say 6x6x2 but they are convinced they are correct. Whatever, they did give me a full refund so it will go to making the correct one at the radiator shop. Thanks all for the helpful advice.