Vintage Air Bi-Level Heater/Defroaster

[racephotoman]

Anybody have installed pic of the heater/defroaster. I just took it out of the box to begin thinking about install - Whoa! it seems way too large. I also have the full bottom on my dash, is this tghe problem, and I'm now thinkling it's a problem later after the body is on to hook up the hoses???

Do I just connect a hose from one of the fittings on the intake manifold to the heater - seems that way in the instructions. And the return to the small connection on the water pump itself???

Looking at it, I think I need to separate the squirrel cage motor from the radiator portion, and mount them back together, but sandwiching the firewall between the two parts??? And have the copper radiator pipes actually protrude through the firewall as well, not facing up as I've been seeing and with the two L-shaped pipe fittings attached.

Walter

[MVRight]

Sounds like the same that I have. If it is, yes you separate the motor from the core and sandwich between the firewall. Only have mine mocked up, so not much help for you at the moment.

[Scott Zackowski]

You are thinking correct.

The heater coil goes on the cockpit side and the fan blower on the engine side of the firewall.

I had trouble with the supplied template for where to drill/cut holes in the firewall not matching the actual heater coil unit. The template holes for the "pipes" were not centered to the actual unit. Check your template against the actual unit before cutting into the firewall. I learned the hard way and had to replace the firewall. The second go around, I ended up making may own template on paper and mocking up a firewall out of thick cardboard to verify all holes were correct.

I will get some pictures posted for you later when I have time.


SWZ

[racephotoman]

Scott,

Same here....after seeing the template was wrong, and the heater not fitting, I began thinking I had the wrong model. Anyway, I did measure the unit instead of using the template and fitted the heater. My only problem I'm seeing is that while you can actually screw the unit back together, sandwiching the firewall, the motor while screwed to the main case is only screwed into plastic- thinking the heavy motor part will shake lose evenually. I'll probably make some sort of bracket holding it to the firewall's metal. Also, while I'm enjoying the extra thinking to get things to work and interacting with the forum people like yourself, I do find it very hard to understand why the instruction are not only accurate, but give a little more detail with the products we are buying (not just Vintage Air). Anyway, the heater is in! Thanks (everyone) for the info!

Walter
14525

[Norm B]

Walter,
The heater unit in the picture is installed upside down when compared to the instructions that came with mine. The template was not correct for the placement of the hoses but the instructions warned you about that possibility. I fabricated a box to move the heater forward to allow for a glove box. The firewall forward option would have been better I think. It would give you more room for the air hoses.
Norm

[MPTech]

I did something a little different. I plan to install the whole unit (blower and heater core) behind the dash.
Finished fabbing my behind dash heater (http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/289477-finished-fabbing-my-behind-dash-heater.html)


I fabricated a tunnel to connect them.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/MPTech/P4160038.jpg

It fits! (I also fabbed up a 1.5" firewall forward and an underdash panel)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/MPTech/P4160041.jpg

[racephotoman]

Norm,

I'm wondering if it matters which mounting direction? I didn't get any instructions with my unit - and see nothing regarding this on the instructions I downloaded from VA. Anyway (if you can), could you post (or email me at graphic@september8th.com) a scan of the page showing this? Thanks everyone!!

Walter

[Norm B]

Walter
Sent a couple of emails to the address provided. Let me know if they don't get there. Sent the whole package. Apologize for the size of the attachments. Tried to compress the files but my computer skills aren't that good and it won the argument.
Norm

[Scott Zackowski]

Scott,

Same here....after seeing the template was wrong, and the heater not fitting, I began thinking I had the wrong model. Anyway, I did measure the unit instead of using the template and fitted the heater. My only problem I'm seeing is that while you can actually screw the unit back together, sandwiching the firewall, the motor while screwed to the main case is only screwed into plastic- thinking the heavy motor part will shake lose evenually. I'll probably make some sort of bracket holding it to the firewall's metal. Also, while I'm enjoying the extra thinking to get things to work and interacting with the forum people like yourself, I do find it very hard to understand why the instruction are not only accurate, but give a little more detail with the products we are buying (not just Vintage Air). Anyway, the heater is in! Thanks (everyone) for the info!

Walter
14525


I have not tried it yet, but it looks like the fan motor will come apart in halves allowing at least one half (preferably the upper half) to be attached thru the firewall and to the heater coil box with nut and screw/bolt (thinking SS). The bottom half could be riveted or vice-a-versa. It might be easier to drill out rivets from the top half, if the unit had to be disassembled later, since the heater coil is further away. I also considered just riveting top and bottom.

Scott

[Ringo]

I also did not get directions with my heater, but if you look at the parts order page at ff5 there is a link to a PDF for the directions and the templet.

[Avalanche325]

I did something similar to MPTech, except my heater dumps out of the bottom. I think it was his post was actually my inspiration.
A bit of work and it is very tight in there, but it fits.
I just had to have a real glove box......
http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t474/Avalanche325/Heater/DSCN1723.jpg