Crown Automotive J5469877 Heater Core for 77-86 Jeep CJ Series

By now, you'd think companies that specialize in Jeep CJ parts would be able to make them so they fit right out of the box. Admittedly, or perhaps sadly, Crown isn't the only one with the problem but compared to OEM, these aftermarket parts rarely fit like they should and quality almost always falls short. This heater core is aluminum so that's efficiant and saves weight, but I had to - very gently - bend the intake and output tubes so they'd go through the holes in the firewall. Had a weld broken I expect I'd have had to take the loss, but it was not going to fit otherwise. And the bracket was pre-drilled, but the holes did not line up with the holes in the heater box so I had to drill, and when I was trying to install it the top weld broke. Luckily, it fit snugly enough that this didn't really matter. Weather has been in the upper 90s here so haven't really had a chance to test its function, but I'll have my fingers crossed until I have hot air on a cool fall morning.

All in all, these problems would not be at all acceptable except that there are really only two companies selling replacement CJ parts and they're both mediocre at best.
If better parts were available I'd be giving this a worse review, or rather not reviewing at all because I'd buy the better alternative. But there isn't a better alternative, so we make do.

1 star..
Blew out once the motor built some heat and pressure. Repaired with some acid core solder and so far it is holding. Time will tell but not happy with this product.

This blew out just after the warranty date. Not too thrilled and not looking forward to replacing it - with what?