ok i recently started working on my swap on my 87 gt... well i tore my interior out for a complete scrub down... and my heater core is leaking... my question is.... which heater core should i use for my replacement.. now i see is significant difference between one with a/c and one without. (price wise).. the car is a factory a/c car... but im removing everything a/c involved... its a 3800sc drive train im running.. and i deleted the ac.... so pretty much my question is will the non a/c heater core work????

It's not a matter of heating or cooling capacity, but of physical fit. The with AC core is designed to fit in that box and use those hoses. Same with the non-AC version.

Ditto what RWDPLZ said.

If you want to get the non-ac one, you'll also need to change the heater box (this includes changing the head-unit as well, install control cables etc.) so the non-ac HC can fit in.

The non-ac HC are typically more expensive than the A/C ones (I checked RockAuto and TFS), so if I were you, I'd stick in a new AC HC and call it a day, much simpler than having to mess with the heater box.

For example @ RockAuto:

SPECTRA PREMIUM / COOLING DEPOT Part # 94498 W/ AC -- 30.79$
SPECTRA PREMIUM / COOLING DEPOT Part # 94499 w/o AC -- 81.79 (!!!!!!) (That's one of the largest difference I've seen)

VISTA-PRO Part # 398204 {#8204} w/o AC-Heater Only -- 46.79$
VISTA-PRO Part # 398203 {#8203} w/AC -- 49.79$

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Ben
87 GT / 88 GT
84 Indy #1863

Like mentioned above, the heater core has to fit the ductwork. If you retain the "with A/C" ductwork, but just remove the A/C hardware, you'll still need a "with A/C" heater core.

Ok good point guys. I wasn't sure if they had different heater boxes or not. Ill just go with the rock auto one then.

By all means, take along your old heater core to compare to the new one. I've found that some of the chain auto parts heater cores are a bit smaller than needed and they won't stay in place in the box.

quote Originally posted by kikinz24: Ok good point guys. I wasn't sure if they had different heater boxes or not. Ill just go with the rock auto one then.

FYI, don't know if you took out your evaporator in the process of deleting the AC but if you want to plug the hole where the pipe of the evaporator comes out of the heater box to connect to the accumulator you can either re-use the old black putty/caulk that was there or buy new one from 3M.

Check this post and the following from Randye:

//www.fiero.nl/forum/F...ML/124499-2.html#p41

[This message has been edited by benoitmalenfant (edited 09-01-2013).]

Thanks guys ill check it all out

[This message has been edited by kikinz24 (edited 09-02-2013).]