Heater core

PostPost by: The Veg » Fri May 13, 2016 1:14 am

So I've got the Plus 2's heater apart for some desperately-needed cleaning and I noted that the heater core looks a little less than pretty.

It has a thin coat of rust on the fins, which otherwise seem fine and unobstructed. Mice had nested on top of the core, but the rust is even from edge to edge and into the corners on both sides so I suspect that it's more down to age than to urine.

What do you fellows think? Blow it out and keep using it? Give it a bath in something to clean it or neutralise the rust? Or just bin it and get another?


The picture doesn't convey just how bold the rusty colour is.
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1970 Elan Plus 2 (not S) 50/2036
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PostPost by: StressCraxx » Fri May 13, 2016 1:19 am

I would suggest taking it to a radiator shop and have them clean it, check the flow for blocked tubes, pressure test and repaint it.

Nothing worse than putting it all back together and discover a pinhole leak....
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PostPost by: DrinkMan » Fri May 13, 2016 2:26 am

Do it right. Flush it thoroughly, pressure test it. Paint it. The last heater core I did, I filled with vinegar and soaked with that, it did great at removing scale and such.

Or, just take it to a radiator shop. They will do all that for a very good price. I don't know if they are still as good as they were back in the day (last time I used them was 1979), but Sims Radiator is still around and they are in Lawrenceville not too far from you. (and Tucker, where I used to go...and Decatur.....and Conyers)
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PostPost by: PaulRB » Fri May 13, 2016 7:41 am

Considering the time and effort it takes to get to where you are now I would agree with the previous comment and take it in to a repair shop where they would have all the correct cleaning and testing equipment. You would be less than pleased if you get all back together and when the system pressured up it dripped.
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PostPost by: rgh0 » Fri May 13, 2016 12:03 pm

Get them to have a close look at the inlet and outlet tubes that connect to the hoses and re-solder then in place if any sign of problems. This is where the Plus 2 heater matrix normally fails

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PostPost by: The Veg » Fri May 13, 2016 3:55 pm

Thanks guys, great advice. I'll definitely get it professionally checked out and freshened up.
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PostPost by: gus » Fri May 13, 2016 7:39 pm

mine looked fine circa 1986

put a few pounds of pressure in it and the whole side fell apart, was paper thin
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PostPost by: bill308 » Fri May 13, 2016 9:17 pm

If available and the cost is reasonable, I'd replace with new given the effort to pull it out and replace it. Why take the chance.

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PostPost by: The Veg » Sat May 14, 2016 7:03 pm

Had Sims look at it this morning. They gave it a glowing bill of health other than the appearance, although they said it was in far better overall shape than most of the heater cores that people bring them! It held 20 psi like a champ so they gave it a good flush and told me not to worry about the rust on the outside. I'll probably give it a quick shot of rust-neutralising paint just to keep it stable. The best part, NO CHARGE for such simple and quick work!

I saw while I was there that they fuel-tank work as well, so I came back with the fuel filler neck to see if they can tap it for a tank-vent hose fitting.
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PostPost by: DrinkMan » Sun May 15, 2016 1:56 am

Great news, Ben. Glad to hear that Sims is still doing great customer service. I was going to take my TR6 fuel tank to them and after reading our post, guess I should have. But I decided to get an Aluminum alloy replacement instead. With this ethanol and all our old cars, I'll remember just to go to Sims.
Life is too short to drive boring cars or drink boring beers but not at same time
66 Elan S2 S/E
05 Elise
68 Lancia Fulvia
68 Merc 280S
69 Alfa Spider
72 BMW 2000tii tour
73 Opel GT
73 Triumph TR6
73 Porsche 914
74 Alfa GTV
79 Triumph Spitfire
03 Jag XKR
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