'53 heater question

[DH Comet]

I was out in the Manhattan yesterday with my daughter; the car was running well, when all of a sudden we heard a hissing sound and coolant started dripping into the passenger footwell.  I turned off the heater and the leak stopped.  Does this imply that the heater valve is okay and the leak is in the core?  I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. 
Is removing the heater core an involved process?  If the core is out of the car can the car still be driven?

Thanks!  Any wisdom offered is appreciated!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

The heater in a 1953 Kaiser is the same as used in 1951 and 1952 model years.  One of two things could be leaking.  I had to replace the heater core in my 1951 Business Coupe because a welted joint on a water hose connection to the core had stress cracked and began leaking.  If you want to drive one of these Kaisers without a core, you will have to either plug the inlet and outlet for the hoses going into the core box.  It will work but (as I found out) with no heat or defrost you may have steamed up windows and trouble driving.

[carsngolf]

I had the same problem with my '53 Manhattan.  Kaiser used a control which fits on the firewall between the engine and the passenger seat.  That control needs to be fixed or replaced.  Many years ago there was a member who repaired these but I don't know if he's still around.  If not, just bypass that control with some homemade plumbing.

[Fid]

This one is a bit spendy but it is one.
Here you go -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1951-1952-1953-1954-1955-Kaiser-Fraiser-heater-valve-720703/323202515606?hash=item4b405f0296:g:gB8AAOSwEZdaFwUe&vxp=mtr

You can also buy a repair kit from NAPA - if you are confident, you can buy the kit and repair it yourself.  It's NAPA part number BK660-1000

Also, this is from a post from 2 years ago:

To rebuild your Ranco heater control valve I'd suggest contacting Lance Walker at 704/7929110     Lance Walker hornetllw@yahoo.com      He just rebuilt mine for a Kaiser and Lance was recommended by Kaiser Bill.   

[r1lark]

The one on eBay sure looks nice - so nice that I wonder if it's been bead blasted - but the fact remains that the rubber diaphragm is 60+ years old. You are much better off in my opinion to rebuild your heater valve with the NAPA diaphragm. I've done a number of them (Studebakers, but the basic valve is the same) and it's not too hard but you just need to be careful not to bend the tabs any more than you need to get it apart.

If you don't think you can do it yourself, find someone who does rebuild these - check Hemmings magazine for ads.

This one is a bit spendy but it is one.
Here you go -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1951-1952-1953-1954-1955-Kaiser-Fraiser-heater-valve-720703/323202515606?hash=item4b405f0296:g:gB8AAOSwEZdaFwUe&vxp=mtr

You can also buy a repair kit from NAPA - if you are confident, you can buy the kit and repair it yourself.  It's NAPA part number BK660-1000

Also, this is from a post from 2 years ago:

To rebuild your Ranco heater control valve I'd suggest contacting Lance Walker at 704/7929110     Lance Walker hornetllw@yahoo.com      He just rebuilt mine for a Kaiser and Lance was recommended by Kaiser Bill.   

[Fid]

but the fact remains that the rubber diaphragm is 60+ years old. You are much better off in my opinion to rebuild your heater valve with the NAPA diaphragm

I am inclined to agree.  Old rubber is old rubber regardless.