Despite the fact that my heater core seems to have stopped leaking for the time being, I cannot drive my car in comfort knowing that it could catch me off-guard. I am resigned to replacing my heater core.

What brand should I buy? FCP and eEuroparts both ask a little over $100 for an aftermarket core; "Visteon" brand on FCP, and no brand specified on eEuroparts. IPD is about the same.

The local auto parts places want $70-$80 for a core, none of them brands I recognize.

RockAuto has two heater cores for just over $50: "Vista-Pro," and simply "Pro." They have a "Spectra" heater core (same as Autozone, I think) for about $80.

Vista-Pro and Visteon appear to be the same company now (if you believe the auto industry news reports that a Google search turned up). But surely FCP does not want over $100 for the same heater core that RockAuto has for less than $60?

Volvo OE is right out, because I am not paying well over $200 for the part.

Every piece of my cooling system rotted out last year, so I would not trust a soldering on my old heater core, and there is no way I am doing all of that work to put in a used one from the junk yard.

So, any recommendations on brand?

I am also planning to do the blower motor while I'm in there - is there anything else I should change while I'm at it?

Thanks!
Sean