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does anybody know where to find a core for a 38 super 8 deluxe heater?

Are you missing the entire core? If not and just the core is bad, any good radiator shop can fit your tank heads to a new core. Last one I had done was about $100.

The core is round and the radiator shop found so many holes that it needs a new one. I found a guy that makes them for $500 +shipping and I think that's way over the top.

Those round cores were actually made by General Motors and used in a number of contemporary GM cars as well. You might try some vintage GM parts suppliers and see what they might have. Best of luck with this.

Any idea which years GM used them?

A good place to start is 1937 GM products heaters as Chev. ,Pont. or Olds. It seems like they always sold Packard last years model year and put on different knobs and emblems and paint. I have a rough 38 Packard std. heater you could have for shipping cost, but the core is of unknown condition. I believe the deluxe heaters may have had a thicker core,but the same outer case with extra case or housing embellishments.

Is the round core seen in its entirety? If an original is non existent or that expensive is there any way to disguise a more standard shape by using part of the old core as a cover or filler. Maybe slice the old so only a thin visible front section would cover or surround a new square core.

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That core is different than I was expecting so surrounding a square core wouldn't work. I assume the motor fits in that round center??

I can think of one more relatively low cost idea that MIGHT work if core is not highly visible and IF the readily available fins needed can be bent to follow the round form. That bending of the fins part I do not know if possible.

The harebrained idea is to make your core by bending some copper tubing in a circle to duplicate the shape and provide the hose connections but as a continuous length of tube or maybe two semi circles connected with a tee on each end to more duplicate the header space of the original. Once bent to shape and fitting the circle, IF the fins can follow the bend you could use some clamp on fins to complete and form the core. Trim to size as needed. Since the fins are for 3/4 tubing you would need to form the circle with that and then transition to whatever hose size the car uses. You would also need to provide some kind of new support for the core and motor.

Anyway, take it for what its worth. A suggestion so probably only worth half that much.

It has taken me some time to locate the information I got at Hershey this past year but finally found it. I have a 37, 120 with the circular heater which I had to have repaired this past year. The shop told me that if it leaked again they would not be able to fix it so I too have been trying to find a replacement.

Universal Carnegie Manufacturing Co says they can make circular cores. Their information is as follows:

Universal Carnegie Mfg.
66A Arch Street Ext.
Carnegie, PA 15106
800-867-9554
www.ucvintagerad.com

Hope that helps,
Rod Smith, Reno NV