Inadequate Heat

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LateOnTheBrakes

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The Spectra unit definitely looks the part much better than the carquest unit. I thought the carquest unit looked like it was about a half inch too narrow, but it was the same size as the one that came out of it.

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LateOnTheBrakes

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LateOnTheBrakes

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Bextreme04

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Wow, if the one on the left is what was in it when the heat didn't work and the one on the right is what is supposed to be in it.... that's definitely your problem. That's a whole lot of open area for air to go around the core and not through it
 

LateOnTheBrakes

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The one on the left is the one that came out and looks exactly like the carquest one I bought to replace it that's currently in the truck. I guess I will brave the cold tomorrow to make the swap.

The spectra website would suggest this is the right heater core for almost every square body. Don't buy the carquest one for any truck.

 

Blackbeard44

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Thats a pretty big difference, I can see the new one working alot better, I will cross my fingers and hope you have a good working heater tomorrow after you swap them out
 

LateOnTheBrakes

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Well, I got the new one installed today and it was immediately better. I could feel more heat coming out of the unit at 186F then I had previously at 204F. I didn't take it out on the highway yet but I drove around my neighborhood and the air coming out of the vents was hot enough to burn my hand.
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LateOnTheBrakes

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Well, it definitely fits better and it's certainly warmer but I'm not convinced it is as good as it should be. But my truck has no carpet, insulation, etc. so it's possible I will always struggle to heat in the interior.
 

Bextreme04

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Well, it definitely fits better and it's certainly warmer but I'm not convinced it is as good as it should be. But my truck has no carpet, insulation, etc. so it's possible I will always struggle to heat in the interior.
Did you put foam weatherstrip along the back of the heater core where it presses up against the housing? Like you did on the previous core, but better because the core is the right size now. You want to make sure that NO air can get around the core and all of it goes through the core itself.
 

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