Hey guys. I have a 57 Tbird with a 312.
I just pulled the car out of storage and took for a spin. Ran great. However I smelled antifreeze when I parked her. Popped the hood to see the Heater Valve leaking again. It was the exact same problem I had last year to the day. I replaced the Heater Valve with new one last year. Does anyone make quality parts anymore? I know I can bypass the heater but I like the idea of heat on these cool days.
Any suggestions?

Thanks

I had something like that happen with my truck. It turned out that a nut that holds the valve together needed to be tightened. No leaks since. Is the bird anything like that?


Lawrenceville, GA

I have one from Concours I thought was leaking. Passenger version. Turned out the heater core was the culprit. If it's the same as the bird, do as Charlie said and check all the hoses also if you didn't replace them last year. My valve has been in the car 6-8 years now without any more trouble.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

If your valve is the one that goes in the intake manifold in front of the carburetor like mine, I went thru two of the NOS ones in 3 years and finally installed an inline one in the heater hose and sort of hid it where it wasn't in plain sight. It does NOT work anywhere nearly as well as the original as far as temperature adjustment, but gives me a functioning heater until I find someone selling good quality new ones. You have to buy a valve that is normally closed and uses vacuum to open.



Tom from the chiggerfarm located in the beautiful Heart of Central Texas

When you cannot dazzle others with your brilliance, baffle them with bullcorn!

I can agree with the comments here. I've chased this issue for several years and seen other bird owners do it too. That particular valve (to Bird) is either a repop (unknown origin) or (NOS) each of which haven't lasted more than a year. Either from laying on a shelf or inactivity on the car or cheap production. As most things tbird they are expensive AND they leak . The inline version is a practical solution for most of our use. Functional but not perfect or original.

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

Thanks guys. I have bypassed the unit for now so I can still drive the car. I will decide what to do.

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

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

Nat:

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

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

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