Heater Core Replacement - Suggestions Appriciated

[nine9six]

Greetings fellow Oil Burners!

I need to replace the Heater Core in my '86 F250 w/ Air Conditioning. I've read this along with some other posts regarding the replacement proceedure. What I haven't really been able to find is which Heater Core to replace mine with? I've read that Motorcraft are the best and Aftermarket ones are trash. Is this true? If so, does anyone have a Link to a Motorcraft Heater Core? If that isn't true, is there a brand that anyone can recommend?

I've gone to here and I see the 3 listed under HVAC, but I don't know which one to get?

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[dunk]

Rockauto has best price on a Ford heater core. Spectra sucks, same truck as you and I went through 3 spectra before finding a source for a FoMoCo brass core.

 

[nine9six]

Hey, thanks! I found that category on RockAuto.com

Ignorant (noob) question... What are the differences between HC1, HC2 & HC3?

I see the little "notes" under them...but I don't know what they mean. =\

 

[dunk]

AC, no AC, high output heater. With factory AC in an '86 you want HC3.

MOTORCRAFT HC3 {#E7TZ18476A}
w/ Integral A/C, Heater Only, or Hi/Low Vent System

 

[nine9six]

You're the man! Thank you!!

 

[Kheg]

I bought my'87 this past summer while replacing the heater hoses one of the pressed in aluminum lines in the aftermarket aluminum heater core came out with the hose. I bought the proper copper Ford heater core. Brother let me tell you; that thing transfers some heat! No problem keeping the truck warm at -10 this winter. Go OEM on the heater core.

 

[nine9six]

You're not lying! I replaced the original heater core (FoMoCo) with the same thing and, just as it had before, it'll throw out some serious heat!

The original had a tiny, pin-sized, hole near the bottom.

The whole process was a breeze even with the weather refusing to cooperate.

Thanks to everyone for the info and suggestions. I love this site!

 

[icanfixall]

Glad to learn the heater core was easy to replace. Thanks for the compliment about this forum. Everyone here works very hard to help others. Probably every one of us came here with questions in the beginning.