Price for an 86 B2000 heater core at NAPA in Canada - $317

Hi folks!

I was pricing out a new heater core for my 86 B2000. Canadian Tire does not carry them and NAPA wants $317. That's insane!!

What is the interchange between different years and models? Will a '90 B2200 heater core fit in an 86 B2000, and so on?

That way I can find something more reasonable or go to a wrecker and pull a heater core from a more recent truck.

Failing that, can I do some kind of pressure flush to attempt to clean out the heater core?

Any suggestions are welcome. I want to do this BEFORE it gets cold up here in Canada.

Thx for your input!!

I think all the heater cores are the same 86-93.After that they became Fords and nothing fit.BJ

How about B2000, B2200, etc... are they interchangeable?

^^^^yup

for an aftermarket one, shipped to you i will do 180-200.00.... sound fair? or for an o.e. i will do it shipped to you for around 260.00 all of which are brand new let me know man

and thats for an 86 b2000

I can't swing that kind of money right now...

I was thinking of testing the hot/cold switch first and then, if that is okay, I'll remove the dash, remove the heater core and clean it.

I have to remove the dash anyway because I need to install a new "air selection lever" (this is the lever you move when you want defrost, vents, heat, etc.). I doubt the truck will pass safety if this switch is missing.

Anyhow, back to the heater core. I found a couple of articles on the Web that say you can clean out a heater core by immersing it in toilet bowl cleaner for about 30 minutes and then flushing it out with clean water.

Anyone hear or do this before?

Lalu - can you get ANY flow at all through the heater core, even a small amount? If so, I'd try cleaning it in place, as it's a LOT of work to remove the heater core. First of all, don't use toilet bowl cleaners, most are hydrochloric acid (the label will usually state what it contains because disinfectants are EPA-registered products). Hydrochloric acid will also dissolve the metal core. Use phosphoric acid, citric acid in solution, or acetic acid (vinegar) and get it pumping through at the firewall, can set up in a continous loop using a cheap pump. As the clog dissolves, the flow should increase. Then rinse with clean water when you're done. Wear goggles.

Wow, thx for the pointers...

Now that I know the size of the steering wheel nut, I can finish removing the dash and then the heater core. I will see what kind of flow I can get and, if any, I will clean it according to your instructions.

FYI - I need to remove the heater core because the '87 B2000 is being towed away by the Kidney Cars program. Free removal and a tax receipt, can't ask for better. However, before they do this, I want to remove everything and anything I could possibly use later on for my '86 B2000.

Now that I think back on it, removing the dash wasn't such a PITA* after all. My shop manual showed me exactly where all the attachment points are and in what order to remove the parts on the dash. I thought I could do it without removing the steering wheel but... no joy!

* PITA = Pain In The Ass

Eh? You should also see if it is just debris in the heater core that are causing you to have no heat. Clogged fins, means no air movement over the core and thus, no heat!

If you have'nt taken care of your cooling system well, then count on a clogged core. But I bet ya, its just a case of clogged fins.

I've got a used one and its not clogged internally, and I can really take some more time to clean out the fins and we can work a deal if ya want...