[mikanystrom]

I should add that it's an A/C car (A/C doesn't work but still), so the control valve is on the engine side of the firewall.

Originally Posted by mikanystrom

Hello forum,
...
Putting the finishing touches on the job, the heater control valve finally broke after leaking
a bit. The plastic body cracked and the plastic pipe came off entirely. I think it was original. Half metal, half plastic.

It happened in a gas station, so I MacGyvered the replacement of the valve for now with a 13mm deep socket working as a pipe! It leaves a gap in my tool box but keeps the system from leaking and the heater working.

But for future replacement, I hear people recommend a motorcraft part, which is half metal, half plastic like the original.

I was wondering if I could use Four Seasons 74603 instead. Can anyone see any downsides with this? 74603 is an all metal unit. It is a replacement unit for early 1970s Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Cadillacs, etc. It seems safer than a half plastic unit, and I have seen the damage that can happen from having one of these fail. On my old Cadillacs, I have never seen one of these develop a water leak (although I have seen them develop bad vacuum leaks after 40+ years, but I'm not sure we care as much about that).

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/fo...ter+valve,6860