fetorino

Yes I didn't want to end up with a heater core that didn't fit right so to aviod that headache I paid three times as much for a US made AC Delco heater core. Ain't it grand! Now I get all the pain at three times the cost. They better take it back.

r3rep

Just like my AC Delco rotors=Made in China?!

fetorino

Stamped on the box, sticker on the part but wherever it was actually made it is worthless.

globey

made in USA = made in mexico..
i was **** off when i bought GM crate engine..

AimHigh

Its everywhere its everywhere!

mrvette

Yup, I suspect the GM foundries are making all the LS stuff they can, and forgetting the old stuff....hence the move to Hecho land....

I been saying about the iron ore deposits have been depleted for years now in this country, and apparently from what I hear, you need to mix too much carbon into junk iron to burn off impurities making much of it unusable for certain things....

it's what I hear, and been a problem for American steel companies for a LONG time....

and the more times they reprocess stuff the worse it gets too....

I don't understand WHY this would be so, but I never heard anything going against that information...

7T1vette

GM doesn't own any foundries. Most [if not all] Central Foundry sites were closed years ago. They went the way of the dinosaurs.... All cast parts are purchased from outside sources, as far as I know.

R1234

I discovered another of those one year only parts during the rebuild of my 68. I discovered the tubes didn't fit into the support cradle after I bought a Delco replacement. I then decided to pressure test it. That sucker looked like the dancing fountains at the Bellagio!
I took it to the local radiator shop for a repair and to reposition the tubes so they would fit better.
Bryan

wattac2

I bought an after-market heater core from a well-known vendor, returned it when it didn't fit, and the replacement didn't fit, just the same as yours. I took my old core and the new one, and the aluminum frame to a radiator shop and had them solder the old pipes/header onto the new core. Fit just fine and was tested to make sure it was solid. Just my way of solving the problem. (BTW, the extra work doubled the cost of the core.)

I've been slowly restoring my '69 for 12 years and have noticed the quality of many of the replacement parts has been getting worse and worse. All of us on this Forum may want to "send a message" to the primary vendors and let them deal with their suppliers.

Paul L

I feel very badly about this as I was the one who recommended the Delco core a couple of months ago. The installation was not a problem. The pic shows the spouts. One could say the 5/8" is a little off but I had no difficulty in getting the hoses on. I have tried cabin heat several times and it works fine with no leaks. I don't know what to say....??

TWINRAY

I bought u joints for my wife's Camaro from Rock Auto. Wanted 2 AC Delco ones but they said they only had 1. Told them to give me a non-zerked Precision joint. Both are identical with the same markings except different box.

another-user

im having the same problem with my water pump. not AC delco but the damn thing doenst fit either.

first one went on fine but the bearings went out in about 2 miles. the replacement pump for that one is now 1/4 of an inch taller then the original one. back of the pump to the front of the attaching plate for the original is 4 1/2". the new one is 4 3/4". the pulley valleys from the upper and lower are off by exactly have a valley. needless to say, i stopped as soon as i saw this, and now im looking for a 4th water pump, that i have to have on by thursday at the latest.

wattac2

Paul67,

I noted you said yours "fit" OK and the hoses went on OK, but did the pipes actually lay in the strain relief dips/slots on the aluminum frame? And could you screw the cover strap over them so they're held in place? If that strap isn't in place then all the vibration from the hoses will break the pipes loose from the header.

Also, I put my heater core/air box back in THEN installed the rubber filler that seals the pipes and the body. Trying to push all that in place with that seal on the pipes was just asking to damage the core.

stock76

You shouldn't feel bad about your recommendation. Companies are outsourcing at the speed of light these days to whoever is cheapest. A/C Delco may have changed vendors since you bought your made in USA part. I almost bought a set of A/C Delco rotors till I saw they had "Made in China" printed on the box. The parts guy even commented "damn when did that start? they have always been American made". I bought NAPA's best quality rotors instead and they were American made and actually less money than the Delco. Go figure.

wattac2

There's a good reason why GM's business is falling off, and they don't have to look far for that reason!

jdp6000

That looks like a core for a 1978-1982. The 1969 core is different. There are two cores for a 1969 with a/c and no a/c.

Jim

stinger12

You didn't actually think the crate engines were 100% US made did you?

L82shark

I bought my heater core from O'Reilly's, 25 bucks. Made in Michigan. Pressure tested it to be sure it didnt leak because I didnt want to do the job twice. Fit was perfect with no leaks to date.

68/70Vette

Maybe someone should just start a business making quality heater cores. DeWitts? Actually, an aluminum heater core might make sense. Seems like an easy enough business to get involved in.

LeMans Pete

Can someone do me a favor and explain whats wrong in those top picks.