Hi all, I need some help. I took my car (1987 328GTS) for run yesterday, parked for lunch, and on our return I noticed quite a large pool of water under the front. I couldn't see where the leak was from. This morning I used a pressure tester, and I traced the leak to a cracked aluminium heater core on the drivers side ( This is a RHD car in Australia) This is located up under the edge of the front mudguard ( fender to some), and is quite hard to get too. I pulled the offending heater core out, and found one of the pipes was cracked and broke off in my hand. I took it to a radiator shop to see if it could be welded, but all the pipes are held in with resin and cannot be welded. The second pipe is loose as well where it fits into the core. Does anyone know if these heater radiators are available as spare parts, or what other car may use the same, or similar ones? Has anyone replaced these before? Regards, Ross
This could be a source, probably not the cheapest one http://www.carobu.com/html/carobu_-_ferrari.html
Hi, I had mine repaired at a radiator shop. They used an epoxy for the repair. Also do a search as several members of this forum have done the repair themselves. Good luck! Bill
I had a leaking core in my '86 GTS (US car) shortly after I got it, and I took it to a local radiator shop and had it recored. If the core is starting to leak, chances are if you fix one tube, another will start leaking, and so on. Might as well either recore it, if it can be recored, or get a new one. Check the prices on replacement raditors, and get an estimate for recoring. These radiators have high efficiency cores to begin with, so replacing it should not be a problem.
Heater core, not radiator. Big difference. New ones are not available, as far as I could find. Both mine leak, I took them out and bypassed with some hose until I can find a place that can fix them or manufacture new ones.
ross, does it get cold enough where you live to justfy heater useage? if not, you might want to consider by-passing the leaking side all together. i understand the issue of "proper" outfitting and all, but these cores might be pricy.
I removed my heater stuff. I could pressure check and sell to you. They are basic heat exchangers with a novel shape.
Thanks guys for all your suggestions. The radiator guy suggested brass ones out of another car or he can have custom aluminium ones built for me for around AU$200 per side. He is looking for an alternative in brass which will fit into the plastic boxes. Meanwhile it is coming on to summer here, so I wont be needing any heating for quite some time. I may just bypass them for the time being, so I can still drive my car. Cherrs, Ross
