Price of something like this is really dependent on supply and/or demand.
For every heater core sold (and there's not really a big rumbling herd of
people at the seller's door for these), there's at least 6 to 10 radiators
sold - much bigger demand.  And both items are made in the appropriate
quantities needed.  The smaller a production and the narrower the
application, that part will cost more to make.  Been putting up with that
scenario for 3 decades on Bug vs Bug Convertible vs K Ghia parts still being
made in Germany (mirrors for example).  I'd snap up Ron's Heater at that
price before doing the Samba Ford "make do" replacement and spend a ton of
my time "making" it work - I've got better things to do - like figuring out
how to adjust the valves on 914 1.8 without a lift at my disposal, a real
PITA and I can't afford to buy one of those, especially if I have no place
to put one.  A bit difficult to do when living full-time in Westy;).  I do
admire the ingenuity of those who are on a budget.  I had to chuckle when
the person on the Samba essentially complained that he was uncomfortable
with the higher higher heat of the original before it failed - a cavernous
Vanagon with too much heat? (those with Propex or Eberspacher excepted) ;D

Terry K's core replacement looks to be a good buy as well:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=830594

My nickel's worth and YMMV
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
75 914 1.8 (No Name Yet)
Full Timing Since March 1999
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 6:22 PM, Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@gmail.com>wrote:

> ...which is still nearly twice the price of the radiator (?!?). Strange.
>
> Cya,
> Robert
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> The Bus Depot
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 4:53 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Front heater core replacment
>
>  > Has anyone successfully replaced their front heater core with
> > a cheap alternative that belongs to another vehicle? I don't
> > think $500 for a new heater core is going to impress my wife
>
>
>
> I sell the correct one for roughly half that price. It's genuine VW and it
> fits.
>
> http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=251265303C
>
> - Ron Salmon
>  The Bus Depot, Inc.
>  www.busdepot.com
>  (215)  234-VWVW
>