ok guys, ever since the dealship told me that the price on a heater core for our trucks is $188 my cost, i have tried to find another solution, i do not want to put a heat core in the truck that has the swivel pipes, just another place for it to leak, and im definately not cutting the pipes, and adding hose, not a good idea IMHO, soo im done some research, all the after market heater cores for the 97' that i have found have the darn swivel pipes, the oem one is the only one that i can find that does not, yet i see i pictures of the aftermarket cores on here that do not have the swivel pipes, the one picture in particular had a orange tag on it with a part #(94736), i reserarched this numer and found that it is for a 2001-2002 model year, but it doesen't come up for any year below 2001, which doesent make any sense since they went to the newer interior 98.5', anywho, the core dimensions on the napa site are very similar to the 97'(part #94466 dim. -(8 5/8"x6 1/4"x1 1/4") vs. 2001' part #94736 dim. -(8"x6x 1/2"x 1 1/4"), and looking at all the pictues that i can find on this forum and other sites, the pipes are bent the same way, soo has anyone used the 2001 core on a older interior without any issues?? thanks guys for any help!

Wes

 

the best solution is to do it right and put the one in that the book calls for ......to try and save a few bucks will come back and bite you

 

i did a search at o'reilly's and came up with the same part number
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2709&ppt=C0331

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2709&ppt=C0331

 

John - i mean to add this to my first post, like you have seen some stores offer the same core(94466) for both years, which leads me to think that the part # that i came up with for the 2001(94736) that does not have the swivel pipes will work. i guess there is only one way to find out, the napa that i go to has both cores instock, soo ill see if they will let me look at them side by side tomorrow. the only concern that i have is the 2001 core is supposedly 5/8" of an inch shorter in length, but i think some weather king foam tape will take up that excess room at the bottom, if there is any....

 

well i bought the 2001 core, looks, and measures out identical to the 97' core, minus the swivel pipes, looks to be make of aluminum possibly, ill snap a picute of it, but for $75 it looks like a good piece, and i can spend the money i would have wasted on the oem core on some more little things that i need(rear pinion seal, 1410 ujoint, straps and bolts for the u joint, etc....).

Wes