Smiths heater

[PCshedman]

I can no longer stand being gassed by antifreeze fumes as my heater matrix leaks or simply freezing by moving it to cold. Nor can I face the prospect of changing the matrix-so I am fitting a square type Smiths heater/blower unit. I will need to put t-pipes on the hoses where they enter the bulkhead. Does anyone know the internal diameter of the pipes? Has anyone else does this?

 

[solarman216]

about 17 mm but worm drive clip will sort out a fair difference in size, Rick

 

[PCshedman]

Thanks know what size to order before starting. Might run pipes to boot area of car so as not to reduce footwell space.

 

[solarman216]

but re reading your post why would you want to put T pieces in the heater pipes as you want to disconnect the leaky standard heater surly so you just need to cut and extend, or have I got this completely wrong, not unusual, Rick

 

[PCshedman]

Well I wanted to use the old heater if needbe to defrost the screen only as the Smiths one just blasts air past the unit matrix and has no ducting just door-like flaps. So effectively I would have two options, the defrost being short term until the screen was clear and then turned off.

 

[solarman216]

but all the time it is connected you will still have the antifreeze fumes, turning the heater off does not disconnect it, it only stops it getting hot, OK I suppose the fumes might not be as heavy but still there, Rick

 

[11redrex]

er, have I missed something ? Why not just replace the standard heater ? If it's leaking aren't you losing coolant ?

 

[PCshedman]

Yes it gathers in the left footwell. I can't do the job myself as I can't bend down for a period of time and looking at the download on the job it is obviously a pig. Paying a garage is not worthwhile as it is a 94 Maverick - hence the idea of running two fresh hoses into an old Landrover heater. This could be placed in the passenger footwell or behind the seats. If run in tandem with the old one, I could open the window to let fumes out for screen de-ice and then move the slider to cold(get no fumes then) and warm the interior with the Smiths. Or as my wife says, buy a fresh truck!

 

[rustic]

Have you tried the sealants that are available, Radweld, Kseal, or there are others that are far better than these.
Someone will advise shortly.

Best regards,
Rustic

 

[PCshedman]

Yes put two lots of Kseal in and that worked well for my wife's Punto, sealing block even. But not on this!

 

[Timbo_1975]

K seal and the like is usually only a temporary solution, and is death in a bottle for some engines (K series, Honda v6 to name a few) due to their VERY small passages which it will block solid.

Anyhow, change your matrix. Fix the problem not the symptoms. they are not at all bad to do (if you dont have a/c)

You'll get cronic steaming up issues using recirculated air...

 

[PCshedman]

Had a look behind glove copartment this afternoon and fan now won't operate anyway as water is dripping out of it, even with fuse changed. You are correct about steaming up I know. Just as a pointer, noticed what looks like there might be a plate you can screw off (perhaps for heater hoses on LHD models?) just under the wiper motor. If so, that would make hose entry easy if I use the Smiths.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

I remember (and it was a long time ago) rplacing the heater and matrix in an LDV van with one form a mini and joinig up the ducts so i had a clear screen, I was going to use a smiths type heater but couldn't find one.

It might be possible to use the Smith's and still have a clear screen!

 

[PCshedman]

Yes I thought of using a hose from am old vacuum cleaner and seeing if I could attach it to the vents. some Heath Robinson job this!
anyone removed that blanking plate?

 

[PCshedman]

Checked on ebay with mini units and you are right -you get a complete box with matrix and blower. Thanks.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

Checked on ebay with mini units and you are right -you get a complete box with matrix and blower. Thanks.

you see im usefull some times :thumbs