SPF -- heater core core repl./ chassis 27xx

[PANAVIA]

Short Version:-- My heater core partially gave way today , and will need to come out.

Looks like the crimps and or glue separated at the bottom edge under high flow conditions. During this partial failure , -it sprayed me and wife. (not good)

--Long version; So after work today , I went home in my SPF. (1100 Miles as of this PM ) I waited until we had a 1000miles on the clock to do the final dyno-tune on my A9L with Dr. Sean as that would require WOT runs to 6000 RPM, ---with that out of the way Friday night, -- 6 dyno pulls and tweaking and I am happy to say it zips very well. (more on that later) .

Last night I did a couple of runs down the expressway -- no problem....-- so I had been taking it easy on my motor for the first 1000 mi. (no shifts above 4000-4250 etc) so I go home, park car for 10min, going to grab wife and go get a gelato in LG. (Saturday tradition)

Fire up car- idle-idle-idle- install wife , head down street , burble-burble-burble--
-turn onto San tomas expwy - point car towards los gatos ,

===light afterburners, wwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, 5900/6000, whahhhhhhhh, 5900, whhhhhaaahhh--*#@&$@*&$ -coolant (hot coolant ) starts coming from under the dash starts hitting transmission tunnel , like someone pouring / dumped a cup coffee.-- and uh...its hot..!! -- and wife alerts the pilot with the issue, with a shreek...

---backed off throttle, and now I see drips but no pour/flow , check temp --OK and look at dash -- ok, so only under high rev...

--limp home (around long city block) doesn't seem to be leaking now---short shift 2500-3200-- burble-burble--

start cursing myself that maybe I missed a clamp, maybe there is a slice in a hose...etc...etc..

get home and mop up , dilute antifreeze on (tan) carpet. (mop-mop-mop)

ok, so check clamps -- all secure.

-huh...- check hoses ..-no slices. huh....dry some more.(mop-mop-mop)

ok, so where did the antifreeze come from>?

-- so being a good tester , I check the coolant lever in over flow tank, still pretty full, check 13LB cap , works , releases pressure when opened --huh-....

so I fire up the car to replicate the problem -- and look under dash and bring up revs /rev engine;

4000 -nothing
4500- nothing
5000 -nothing
5200 - leak-leak
5500 - whoosh...&@*#

the bottom mating portion of the heater core , aluminum core crimped over ABS side tank, -- looks like the the seal fails under high flow.



OK, so wife still needs gelato -- take heater core hose out of heater hose loop, top off coolant, drive to los-gatos (gelato) and santa cruz and back. --



-- anyone know what the heater core setup looks like in this thing >? (mechanical dwg >?) it is nothing like the ERA setup for sure and I didnt get that far into the ventilation system during my build.

-- there was no need, we just checked hose clamps.

--Questions ;

1. where does the heater in the SPF come from.
2. defective heater cores happen to anyone -- i am sure i can get a repl.
3. are there mechanical drawings of this heater box >?
4. why is the current SPF heater box designed in this manner.>?

-- (Ethaline Glycol Soaked )Steve

[Got the Bug]

Steve,

I did a little poking round on SCOF and it doesn't appear to be a very common failure. One person posted about a failure in 2005 and they ended up replacing the core with an air/heater evaporator from Vintage (no details on PNs used).

A direct replacement from SPF would probably be the easiest route.

I remember when a heater core exploded in my brother's 1965 Mustang...scared the shix out of me.

BTW - 2:48 am...do you ever sleep...starting to suspect you are some sort of alien....

[VintageUpgrades]

I have complete SPF heater box take-outs in stock from our AC installs. The job should take under two hours. You WILL need a 13mm Gearwrench.

[PANAVIA]

Dr. Vintage, please send me a PM with pics and monetary needs.

[terry lee]

Why not check with your dealer? #27XX is a fairly new car, and my guess is SPF would cover the heater core under their warranty.
Give 'em a call.
TL

[PANAVIA]

TL-that is on the list for Monday!

[Rick Parker]

Might be easier to pull it off, and repinch the tangs and test at radiator shop. Less down time too. Happens sometimes on radiators with plastic tanks, the "O" ring that seals the tank to the header is not compressed enough by the tangs that capture the tank. Not a big operation.

[clarodcobra]

My wife keeps a cloth on tunnel under dash of our SPF 1547 to use as needed. This summer, we noticed cloth was "damp" and "oily" and thought liquid was coming from oil pressure hose. I pulled speedo, checked hose and it appeared to be intact. I added this to list of things to be checked when I took car to Olthoff Racing for it's annual "look over". After investigation, Dennis informed me the leak actually was coming from heater core and alas he could not source one for me. He had two old ones but they both had leaks. After discussion, we decided best thing to do for short term would be to bypass heater core and prevent leaks. So, leak fixed but no heater.