Rebuilt your heater valve?

[BaltoTim]

Anyone have long-term success with a heater valve they've rebuilt? Where did you find your o-rings? Hardware store? Specialty parts supplier?

Mine took a crap and I put a note looking for a good used one on the WTB forum. But if the right sized O rings can be found, why not? My HCV opens easily and turns freely, so I might give it a shot. It's worth trying before I shell out 250 bucks or more.

[eastsidebimmer]

$75 Shipped - Mobiletradition at GM a i l - will also reply to your WTB with more pics/info.

[tjones02]

Saw the picture link to your '67 1600.... Looks cool in Agave, was that its original color?

[jerry]

very easy to refurbish. go to the plumbing department with your disassembled valve in hand and look for appropriate sized o-rings. i actually stacked two thin o-rings atop one another and no leaks to speak of. the hardest part is unscrewing the two machine head screws holding the cover on. i've got one that'll need to be drilled out because it just wont budge no matter how much heat and liquid wrench i use.

replace them with stainless steel or thru-bolt and nut.

[SteveJ]

The all metal ones can be rebuilt.

With my stock of metric and standard o-rings, I was able to find a match for the small one on the shaft. For the seal on the outer plate, I took two o-rings, cut & glued them together til I had a good fit.

While apart, I wire brushed the outside, and then gave it a spray of clear. I cleaned all the threads on the shaft and body screws. A dab of antiseize on the screws for next time. Seems to be holding up well. The gremlins moved to my headgasket.

I also had to fabricate a mounting bracket as the old plastic tabs had crumbled on the heater box.

[KFunk]

Someone recently posted a link to a cheap generic heater valve, which can be purchased for like $18. I think it was a car website that sold A/C kits for vintage cars (mostly american).

I'd go with the generic O-rings and such myself though, just because the generic heater valve might not line up quite perfectly. (Don't think anyone has tried one yet to verify perfect fit)

[BaltoTim]

Tom, thanks. No, original color was Sahara. I happen to love Agave. Although Pacific and Florida were also in the running.

[mtriple]

Anyone have long-term success with a heater valve they've rebuilt? Where did you find your o-rings? Hardware store? Specialty parts supplier?

Mine took a crap and I put a note looking for a good used one on the WTB forum. But if the right sized O rings can be found, why not? My HCV opens easily and turns freely, so I might give it a shot. It's worth trying before I shell out 250 bucks or more.

I took mine to a carb tuning shop and was able to dig in until we found the proper O ring. Its been more than a year and its still running like a champ.. GL

hamada

[BaltoTim]

Gents, thanks for your tips. Ben's heater valve with brass guts looked pretty good (and comes with a warranty), so I snatched it. I'm going to attempt to refurbish mine (later one with plastic valve) to have as a backup. We have a good plumbing supply store here so I may find what I need.

[Guest Anonymous]

I have excellent rebuilds at far less than $250, about half actually.

Francis Ferrance

Ferrance@aol.com

Wrightwood, CA

[Indy02]

I have P/N's for the correct "o" rings for the later valves. Don't know if they will fit the old style. I can dig the numbers out of my archives if anyone is interested.

[Indy02]

I have P/N's for the correct "o" rings for the later valves. Don't know if they will fit the old style. I can dig the numbers out of my archives if anyone is interested.