Heater questions

DHDamo · January 13, 2014, 09:29:34 PM

Hi, I'm after some heater info from people in the know. I'm removing the heater in 84 gtv to replace cable for demister.. . . Can easily get to the cable mount at front but am pulling out to get to the rear cable mount. In doing so, I've found some other . . . . . . Issues.

1. The hoses on the passenger side - are these fir air con? In this car, they pass from cabin into engine bay and are then 'cut off' - car has no aircon (but I assume it had it - extra hoses and large mounting studs on front of engine). Question is: can I just remove these as they aren't required - I'm not looking to re-install aircon.

2. The Heater hoses are on drivers side? I have 2 passing from cabin to engine bay, but neither are connected to anything. Where should they go in bay? Manual doesn't really show accurately (seems like one to water pump and one near inlet manifold ish and I can't remember from my last Alfa.

Hope that makes sense, somebody's done a doosie on this one - need the heater & demist working for roadworthy.

Thanks in advance.

Alan Hopla · January 13, 2014, 10:03:55 PM

Damo,

1. Pretty sure the hoses on the passenger side are air con. I can recall that one did go through the firewall there, but can't recall where the second hose ran.

2. The heater hoses are on the drivers side. The lower hose goes to the water pump, the upper hoes to the rear of the inlet manifold. The exact location depends on the vintage of the engine. Earlier ones with a rod and linkage accelerator have it coming out at 45 degrees above the rear of the back carbie. Later ones that have a cable accelerator have it coming directly out the rear, (toward the firewall), above the brake booster vacuum port. Hope that makes sense.
The Haynes workshop manual has a schematic on page 52, ( figure 2.1)

Alan.

DHDamo · January 13, 2014, 10:20:58 PM

Great Alan, will do some investigating tomorrow. It's a cable throttle so your info will help.

Thanks.

DHDamo · January 14, 2014, 02:50:06 PM

So if somebody would please confirm for me: The 2 standard copper tubes on the back if this heater are the standard Heater tubes, and the 2 on the right with fancy screw on arrangements are for aircon (in which case I'll remove as car no linger has aircon)?

kartone · January 14, 2014, 04:57:53 PM

while you are it, open the unit by removing the metal clips and clean-out all the debris that is surely in there , including rinsing out the heater core

DHDamo · January 14, 2014, 05:09:26 PM

Quote from: kartone on January 14, 2014, 04:57:53 PM
while you are it, open the unit by removing the metal clips and clean-out all the debris that is surely in there , including rinsing out the heater core

Yep, have opened it up. In rinsing out, have found a hole in the Heater core. Might take to local radiator place to see if they can repair. I think it's a screw hole from a previous amateuer (very) stereo installer.
Where should my heater tap be located? Attached to one if the inlet/outlet pipes? Mine appears to be missing and this is my first foray into the heater world.

Neil Choi · January 14, 2014, 06:47:59 PM

DHDamo,

The question begs to be asked. You are in the Sunshine Coast, why do you need to fix the heater box

!!!!!!

Obviously I am no help to you. But it is helping as I am about to open up a box.

Cheers
Neil

DHDamo · January 14, 2014, 09:07:24 PM

Neil, I hear your cries. If it were me, I'd throw it, but roadworthy won't pass without demister (ive been led to believe).

DHDamo · January 15, 2014, 04:08:58 PM

Ok, so I've progressed to the point where: I've been to half a dozen spares joints, ie supercheap/repco/autobarn/bursons looking for a heater tap. They all have them, only some that look reasonable but: all of the ones I've found so far are to suit 5/8" hose but the fittings on engine and heater are 1/2". Anybody know where I can source a 1/2" one? The 'custom heater tap' threads I've found don't discuss dia. Are they (universal ones) available in 1/2"? other than the factory ones/jag/mg ones?

colcol · January 15, 2014, 04:55:10 PM

In my experience with Alfasuds and 33's [ not sure about Alfetta's ], they have a heater flap which cuts out air flow around the heater, when i put airconditioning in the 33, [back in the 80's], i needed a heater tap, a good place to start is Repco or better still an Auto air conditioning supply outlet, who have a good range of taps, the metal ones are better than the plastic ones which distort with heat and jam open or shut, but they don't rust up, Colin.

MD · January 15, 2014, 08:19:23 PM

If you think about it, the Italians placed that idiot heater valve as a result of a moron contest win. The contest revolves around who will need a Chiropractic visit within minutes of working on it. Nobody considered to place the control valve in the engine bay from where the hot water comes from in the first place. Somewhere logical and accessible so you can work on it without requiring medical services.

Take my tip. Move all your hose connections up to inside the engine bay and source a valve and control cable from any Jap car to operate it. At the same time, you can do the hose size conversions if necessary by using brass adapter joiners.

That's what I did with an Alfetta Sportiva I had once.

DHDamo · January 15, 2014, 09:43:00 PM

Quote from: MD on January 15, 2014, 08:19:23 PM
If you think about it, the Italians placed that idiot heater valve as a result of a moron contest win. The contest revolves around who will need a Chiropractic visit within minutes of working on it. Nobody considered to place the control valve in the engine bay from where the hot water comes from in the first place. Somewhere logical and accessible so you can work on it without requiring medical services.

Take my tip. Move all your hose connections up to inside the engine bay and source a valve and control cable from any Jap car to operate it. At the same time, you can do the hose size conversions if necessary by using brass adapter joiners.

That's what I did with an Alfetta Sportiva I had once.

Yeah have been thinking about the adapter joiners. Like 1/2" on engine into 5/8" onto tap, then back to 1/2" into heater? Will this create pressure issues? Did you notice any problems when you did it MD? Like the engine bay idea too - did you just run a longer cable up into the engine bay?

Will see how I go with the suppliers Col - early efforts haven't been very fruitful (in the 1/2" range).

MD · January 16, 2014, 04:10:20 PM

No pressure issues to worry about.
Yes you will need a longer valve control cable. How long depends on where you place the valve. May be possible to adapt the cable from the donor car or if not get a cable maker crowd to make you a specific cable.

colcol · January 16, 2014, 06:54:49 PM

Cable maker?, i go down to the local bike or lawnmower shop, get the closest cable, make sure its a bit longer than you need, and cut it to length to suit your application, cables are so much easier and reliable than a computerised climate control system, you will need a solid cable to push and pull, a braided bike brake cable won't push, only pull, Colin.

MD · January 16, 2014, 10:16:58 PM

Yep Cable makers like these guys : http://www.fdrive.com.au/products/02/cables.php I use them to make custom throttle cables and gear selection cables, mechanical speedo drives etc..

What you need is a Bowden cable. One that is able to push and pull. Hence my suggestion of rescuing one from a donor set up. It will also need a lever or knob attached to it so that is can be manipulated. Bicycle cables are not going to do the job I am sorry to say.
( unless they are of the bowden type)