Mine is only about 3 months old and it started leaking this weekend. Thankful that the Bird holds 5 gal of coolant or I wouldn't have made it home. It came from CASCO. I saw where someone contacted them about the problem and they said there was only 1 manufacture for them no matter who you bought them from. Mine has stamped on it a company from Chicago but I bet it's made for them in China. I found a NOS one on ebay for $139.00. I'm taking a chance that it is still good.

Nat,PS: Mopars from the 60's and 70's used a manual heater control among others. Most AP stores carry a universal, but you would have to fabricate some, and do the boden wire control. The kit had all the stuff necessary.
WJ

Nat,For your 57 'BIRD, the engine vacuum is applied to a temperature sensing King Seeley ( Ford's favorite vacuum control supplier) valve mounted in the heater plenum next to the discharge side of the core. This valve links to the temperature lever on the heater control and the output of this valve is what modulates the heater control valve on the manifold. It is a crude thermostat, but when working, works well. The T'bird heater assembly came from the Ford medium duty truck, so it works very well in Alaska. Casco (www.classictbird.com) makes a kit to convert the troublesome vacuum system to straight manual control; I used it on my old 57 Bird and it really worked quite well. Under sixty dollars, your heater control looks stock, good instructions. Be aware CTCI judging would most likely deduct for non-original if you show your Bird. Took me about 2 hours to install. NOS heater control valves are likely all gone now. Hope this helps.
WJ

The car is in Maine at Y-Block Bills getting painted. Maybe he'll see this and post a picture. As I recall the most difficult part was finding one that was vacum opened. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Hey Moonshadow.
You mentioned you found an in-line Heater Valve that works well. Any pics of it or can you tell me where you got it?

Thanks

I picked it up at the local parts store. I don't have the car here now to check the numbers. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Hey Moonshadow.
Can I ask you where you got that heater valve?

Nat:

Vacuum opens the valve. the upper lever controls the vacuum.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

57 Tbird
Does anyone know how the vacuum operates the Heater Control Valve? Does the vacuum OPEN the Valve to allow Heat or does the vacuum keep the valve closed.
On the dashboard heater control lever is it the top or bottom lever that controls the vacuum.?
I ask because I have found an inline heater control valve that operates on vacuum. There are 2 models - vacuum keeps coolant flow off and the other one, vacuum allow coolant flow.
I want to be sure I order the correct one.

Thanks

I had to move the outlet is interferred with the McCullouch supercharger. I found a vacum control unit that mounted in the hose and works great. Its sort of buried under the fender. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire