Retrofitting heater/defroster

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by patrickt

... and if you find you can't get the heater in there without moving heaven and earth, then a 12v blow dryer, like this one, temporarily ducted in has been known to work for getting by the inspection requirement for defrosters.

See what I mean? He always validates my assertions about him.
Lesson: Be careful from whom you take advice.

[1795]

Thanks everyone for the sage advice. I do not plan on driving it much in the cold, and certainly not at high rpms until the engine is warm. But, the DMV does mandate the defrosters, so here we go....next weekend.

[DanEC]

Jim - in response to your PM here are some pictures from when I was bonding the body that show the heater hose holes in the fiberglass firewall and aluminum skin.

The two holes just below the main electrical cable entrance are for the heater. I believe the three screw holes around it are the one to secure the heater - one to either side and one below. Assuming ERA supplied the same heater to you as they did in my kit, they should be the same on the template.



This is of the firewall behind the aluminum. The lower heater support screw is below the steel tube cross bar and only penetrates aluminum. The threaded coupler allows adjustment to make up for the thinner section in that area.



Here is another picture of the interior with the heater mounted. I took hundreds of photos but still managed to miss a lot of good detail shots I could have taken.



Hope this helps.

[1795]

I stopped by Harbor Freight and $29.99 later I have a right angle drill. It should last long enough to drill the 5 holes that I need in the aluminum firewall. I do not plan on driving the car in very cold temperatures, but since I already bought the heater/defroster and DMV mandates it, in it shall go. It does not look like I will have to gut the car, will have to remove the two lower supports for the dash and then take the retaining screws out of the dash so that I can slide it backwards a couple of inches.

I understand the concern about operating temperatures and do know not to run the engine at high rpms until the temperature gauges have increased to an appropriate operating temperature.

Will start posting pictures next weekend. The temp has dropped too much for me to be fiddling around in the garage with the car.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by 1795

I understand the concern about operating temperatures and do know not to run the engine at high rpms until the temperature gauges have increased to an appropriate operating temperature.

Which will never happen below about 45 ambient. Especially with an oil cooler.
Don't disregard my other advice.

[cscobra]

What DonC said is correct--I have removed my windshield from the stanchions and remounted it with no problems.

Overall, I wish I hadn't opted for the heater. I completed my car a year ago, and the heater has already sprung a leak (last November). I've not had time to deal with it yet, but at least it doesn't leak when the water supply is shut off. Doubt ERA can do anything about it since the kit was shipped to me in 2009, so I haven't bothered them about it.

I haven't decided yet whether or not to just eliminate the thing. At least the car is snug with the top (fits well) and side curtains in place.

[1795]

Well, the project has commenced. I took photos, but cannot upload them into an album so that I can post them here. I have then unit in place, but still need to add the heater hoses form the engine, attaché the wiring once I find where the lime green wire is , attach the defroster hoses to the unit. What a pain in the @@@ I had to remove the lower support screw extension, as it is way too long, I believe that someone else had mentioned that in their post. I removed the mounting screws for the dashboard and fought to support that and move it to gain access at the same time Luckily my partner Brenda was there to give a helping hand This is not a job for anyone who lacks flexibility or has put ona few extra pounds There is very little room to work with and you spend the majority of your time on your back underneath the dash. Once I can upload the photos you will be able to see the spider web of wires that I had to re-arrange to make room for the unit. I still have to straighten out the speedometer, it rotated slightly as there is little to no room between it and the heater unit I need to obtain a larger hex key to remove the plug in the manifold and may attach the heater hoses today, but then again I may wait until tomorrow when it is warmer .

A little frustrated, sore and tired right now.

So, basically I removed the air cleaner, wrapped the carb in Saran wrap to avoid any dust or particles getting in the motor and then placed the template on the firewall. Used a prick punch to mark the spots and then used a small drill to drill pilot holes. Removed the template and checked from under the dash to make sure that there was nothing in the way and then re-drilled the holes to the correct size. I looked for a stubby drill for the 3/8" holes but could not find one, would have been easier. Then I , cut the zip ties from the wiring to loosen things up took a close look and knew that I was going to be in trouble, removed the screws form the dash and that was when all of the swearing started! You have to move the dash a significant amount to get that heater unit underneath it. A lot of moving wires here and there, forgot to mention that you have to remove the two vertical supports underneath the dash, and spending hours on your back in tight places looking where the sun don't shine! Will get back to it tomorrow. Hopefully all the gauges will still work when I am done. Had ot move a lot of wiring around, and I still need to find where wire #20 is (light green).

Jim

[DanEC]

I figured it would be a chore to get it in place with the dash still hooked up in the car. Of course completely pulling the dash is somewhat of a chore too, so it's kind of like pick your poison. Sounds like you are on the downhill stretch now - just some assembly still required. Good luck and hope everything is working fine when you are done.

[fjrgary]

kinda late for you now but n.y. gave me a laundry list of things i had to do to get a n.y. vin no. for a registration. defrosters, back-up lights, flashers, etc, etc. this was after i had registered the car for two years already. went to plan B and registered in another more cobra friendly state. every thing was done via e-mail, no inspections no hassle. just have to have a mailing address in the state. also saves me from n.y. front plate law. by the way have you ever been to florida????

[1795]

So far so good. Will be finishing up everything shortly and taking it out for a test. Made it through my first NY inspection OK. Hopefully I do not have other issues.

I have been to Florida, but not in many years.

Jim

[kevins2]

Looks like you're all set. Having finished my car the first week in January, I've used the heater a number of times. With the heater and heated seats, it is comfortable down to the low 40's if you're dressed properly. Not sure about the heater by itself - it definitely puts out heat but dissipates very quickly. So, helps a little but not much...

Hey Dan, I remember you said you were envious because I finished my car before you. Well, now I'm envious because you can drive yours! It's a beautiful day here with the temp close to 60 but the roads are still salty... need some heavy rain to wash that crap away.

[1795]

Kevin,

When the weather breaks we will have to get together some time. I will have to google West Chester PA to see how far away you are. I am in the southern tier of NY below Rochester.

Jim

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by kevins2

Hey Dan, I remember you said you were envious because I finished my car before you. Well, now I'm envious because you can drive yours! It's a beautiful day here with the temp close to 60 but the roads are still salty... need some heavy rain to wash that crap away.

Kevin - it's not all wine and roses here yet. During the last ice storm they really out did themselves in scattering sand and gravel around. They showed one video out in the county of a county worker with a dump truck, tailgate dumping a solid layer of about 3 inches of sand down the entire lane of a county road. One of the dumbest thing I've ever seen. People probably buried up and slid around in the sand. And they are forecasting a possibility of some minor amount of snow tonight. But, the immediately local streets around my house are beaten pretty clear so I can kind of cruise up and down our nearby boulevard a few blocks in either directions pretty safely when temperatures permit. I know you guys back east and north have had it many times worst.

Spring has got to be here before long.

[kevins2]

Well, as soon as I get a few miles on my car and feel like it's sorted out enough to trust, I'll be ready to get out and about. I'm just west of Philly, so about 5 hours from you.