leaking heater?

[drbeard]

The passenger footwell in my drop head is slightly wet and the 2 metal pipes going to the heater a bit damp i think i know what the problem is! anyone know of an easy fix?

[gaz]

The easy fix would be to bypass the heater matrix
I believe S&S have cheap fix/kit for it
They usually rot through just as they enter the bulkhead

www.classiccarrunblackpool.co.uk

1981 DHC 2.0 Litre
1980 DHC pedal car
1976 FHC 2.0 Litre

[john 215]

Hi,

These pipes go into the heater matrix, these are sealed at this point and unfortunatley these seals are very difficult to obtain.

The pipes tend to rot through, replacements are available in stainless though [8D] Available from Robsport and S & S Preperation

http://www.robsport.co.uk/

http://www.ss-preparations.co.uk/





Cheers John


LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!

1976 Speke FHC Beauty

1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

[Beans]

When you have coolant in the foot well,the seals were the pipes go into the heater matrix are the first items to check ....





As for signs of a leaking heater ...





<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="3"><font color="red">My full Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size3"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>

[busheytrader]

The heater pipes are made of mild steel and rust, the rubber seals harden with age. Hard rubber doesn't seal well against blistering rust.

I fitted the stainless steel heater pipes and was lucky to buy a pair of rubber seals whilst still in stock. An all in one matrix and heater pipe assembly is now available. I wish I'd fitted this version.

Adam





TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, S/S Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & PolyBushes all round, Anti- Dive, Strut-Top Roller Bearings, Capri Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 14" 5 Spokes or Maestro Turbo 15" Alloys, Cruise Lights, S/S Heater Pipes, Replacement Fuel Tank. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991 courtesy of S&S V8 conversion and big brake kits.

[drbeard]

many thanks for replies, iwas hoping not to have to remove the dash [:(]

[FI Spyder]

Not that big a deal, keep track of all the screws and where they go with marked baggies. It is a little time consuming so I would do everything that needs doing while it's out though. Example, replace foam in heater if crumbly, check and replace light bulbs, clean contacts on the dash circuit board film/connectors. I hate taking something apart doing one job, then having to do it again to fix another problem.


- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[john 215]

Hi,

No need to be affraid of pulling the dash out, as my learned friend says basically held in by self tapping screws and a few 6 mm bolts.

IF you end up having to pull out the heater box there is a bolt under the bonnet,easy to miss, then you will a drill to remove the pop rivets to remove the heater matrix, can be done easy in day allowing for a brew or two.

Cheers John


LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!

1976 Speke FHC Beauty

1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

[Hasbeen]

If you do pull the dash out, do make sure you pressure test the heater matrix while you've got it out.

The first time I took my current car for a good run down the highway, after restoring it, it started spitting green water [coolant] at me, from the ventilation outlets.

Yes the matrix itself was leaking into the air flow.

Fortunately, living in warm Queensland, I could simply bypass the whole thing, by running the hose direct from the back of the head to the water pump. This may not be such a happy modification, if the car lived somewhere a little colder than here.

Hasbeen

[busheytrader]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by john 215</i>

.............can be done easy in day allowing for a brew or two.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">


More credit to you John. It took me about 2 days.......

Adam

[FI Spyder]

Took me a whole winter......but then I did other things too.[:p]





- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[john 215]

Hi Adam,

Probaly done a few more than you !! [^]

If you look at my learned friends Adams picture on the right hand side you can see the studs that can catch out inside the engine bay.

A picture ( taken a year or so ago, so price no doubt gone up ) of the modified matrix doing away the pain in the ar53 seals, you shorten the two steel pipes that go through the bulk head ( again can be seen on Adams picture ) and use rubber hose to join up.




Available from the gents at Robsport and S & S Prep.

Cheers John


LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!

1976 Speke FHC Beauty

1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

[Dave Dyer]

I found them for sale at Leacy classics .com for £81.30 inc VAT

Dave

[TR Tony]

The modified heater matrix that we can now get would certainly be an improvement over the original design, but you have still got two short lengths of rubber hose in there secured with jubilee clips, so I imagine that just like the hoses in the rest of the cooling system you will eventually need to change these.

In the non A/C cars the coolant circulates through the heater matrix all the time, so a split hose in the heater box could give you a big leak without warning, whereas in my limited experience the seals do at least weep a bit to warn you!

Still, given that the original seals are very hard to get now, it's a great alternative.

Tony

<font size="1">1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow</font id="size1">