Heater a defrost install

[Makgecko2017]

Any problems or pretty straight forward?

Mike

[Gale K]

Heater/AC unit install for me was fine. Richard Oben's setup worked great. I build a custom plenum out of duct sheet metal for 2 outlets pointing at the passenger's lap and 2 at the driver's lap. Trying to get a defrost vent setup that you could turn on and off was a space issue. I looked at several other posts on it, and I finally ditched the effort. Also helped a buddy with his looking at it, and we also agreed that it was a very tight fit. Richard Oben used to sell (probably still does, but you'd need to check) a fiberglass plenum for defrost. My buddy bought one, but again he ran into space issues with how to turn the defrost off and on. If you ran defrost full time, it would be less of a space issue. If you want to turn it on and off, you have to get creative on space.

[AC Bill]

Depends on the heater, and the template that you may have, for the cut out in the firewall.
The template that came with the compact Vintage Air heater a few years back was inaccurate, as far as positioning. If you can post a picture of the heater and the template I could tell you if you have the one that had the issues.

[phileas_fogg]

Here is the modified template for the Vintage Air kit that worked for me. Easy enough to print it and double check against your unit.

NOTE: My template is for a firewall forward. If you use the stock firewall, the bottom edge of the template needs to be 2" up from the bottom edge of the firewall.


John

64655

[boat737]

As noted above, space and the template are issues. As for the template, I used the VA supplied template, but mounted it on the evaporator/heat exchanger unit first to see how far off it was. From that it was simple enough to see where and how much to move the cutouts and either adjust the template or make a new one. As for the defroster part of the system, I didn't use it. I just ran the existing ports that were meant for the defrost to two additional foot box louver vents. Here is my little thread on my VA heater mods and installation. http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?20883-Vintage-Air-mounting-modification

[AC Bill]

It would help to know what he is using for a heater. There are a few different styles out there.

[carlewms]

My experiences installing the FFR supplied VantageAire heater are in dedicated thread ...

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/576097-ffr-heater-installation.html#post5647746

My installation is modified to also provide fresh air in the summer by 1) enclosing the fan box 2) Supplying the fan box with outside air from the PS brake vent and 3) Using a Vintage Air Heater Control Valve that fully shuts off hot water flow to the heater.

I also have provisions for supplying defroster air (cool or hot) to the windshield.

Carl