Improved heater

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moggiegeek
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Improved heater

Post by moggiegeek »

I was told today that in the old days of Charlie Ware and Owen Burton that fitting a Triumph Dolomite or Toledo heater was a common upgrade. Has anyone tried this or has experience with improving the moggies heating capability?
pgp001
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Re: Improved heater

Post by pgp001 »

The heat output of my Traveller's heater was non existent when I drove it home after buying it on a cold February day.
So I decided to flush out the heater core and you would not believe the amount of brown crud that came out of it.
It is a very easy job to do if you have a garden hose pipe available, just keep connecting it to either heater hose and running water through in either direction till it runs clean.

Now the heater is producing nice warm air within less than a mile on the road, and more often than not we have to turn it off because it gets too warm.

So I would try a bit of TLC before you go looking for a new heater, having the correct thermostat will also be a contributing factor.

Phil
don58van
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Re: Improved heater

Post by don58van »

I think it would be easier to install a heater from later models of Mini. The ones I refer to are the same basic design as the later Minor ('62 on). The main metal shell is almost identical.

Why would that be better you ask?

They have two squirrel-cage fans the same size as the Minor's one.

They have a higher capacity hot water matrix with larger inlet and outlet for thicker hoses from the engine.

The Mini ones have a different control panel from the Minor's but you might feel you could live with that. Alternatively, I have had a good look at both and I am confident that with some fiddling, the Minor's front panel and controls can be transferred to the Mini heater's body.

Don
philthehill
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Re: Improved heater

Post by philthehill »

I had the Mini heater fitted to my Ser 2 and it was very effective.

ManyMinors
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Re: Improved heater

Post by ManyMinors »

The OP doesn't say which model of Minor he owns but the later "fresh air" heater fitted from late 1963 is a good unit WHEN it is working properly. As pdp001 suggests - get it working properly first. I have the same experience as him, that the heater, once cleaned out and a few simple checks carried out, is perfectly adequate. The later Mini heater - if you can find one - is a good upgrade too.
jagnut66
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Re: Improved heater

Post by jagnut66 »

Hi,
I agree with the above and will be sticking with my barrel heater, however I can see the appeal of an adapted (what is now referred to) 'Classic' Mini one.
Are the links below what you are referring to? Prices seem to vary quite a bit.......
Best wishes,
Mike.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini ... mXtd5ovF[u][/u]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini ... Sw5yJdB8DC

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini ... SwXHRdxFuj

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI ... SwKzVdqcf5

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/classic-mini ... Sw4ylcdGlx

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini ... SwrzxdB7jV
1954 Series 2: 4 door: "Sally" -- Back on the ground with (slave) wheels and waiting to be resprayed......
1970 Triumph Herald 1200: "Hetty" -- Driven back from Llangollen in Wales (twice.....)
ManyMinors
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Re: Improved heater

Post by ManyMinors »

They look like the ones yes. They are a decent heater when in good nick. Whether those are in good nick is anyone's guess! After all, they'll be from cars built in the 1970s? 1980s? so might be in no better condition than our old Morris Minor ones. I suppose the prices are a reflection of the fact that most Minis are restored now and not so many being dismantled for spares perhaps?
Declan_Burns
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Re: Improved heater

Post by Declan_Burns »

I also have a Mini heater and am very pleased with it. I also fitted a speed controller.
Regards
Declan
Attachments
PICT0841.JPG
PICT0841.JPG (726.75 KiB) Viewed 2197 times
Mini_heater_1.JPG
Mini_heater_1.JPG (1.19 MiB) Viewed 2197 times


Regards
Declan
Chipper
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Re: Improved heater

Post by Chipper »

An idea I found in the latest Practical Classics magazine, from a Staff Car Saga author who was having demisting issues on a Peerless GT; fit a 12V Marine bilge fan/blower in the air intake trunking to the heater, to give it a boost in demisting pressure - they blow approx 130-145 cfm, and would be fairly simple to wire in, maybe even using the existing blower switch.

It would appear a 3" version would fit the Minor's air intake trunking, such as this one (the only compact one I could find in black):
https://tinyurl.com/rodb39v
Maurice, E. Kent
(1970 Traveller)
dudload
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Re: Improved heater

Post by dudload »

Chipper wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2019 11:17 am An idea I found in the latest Practical Classics magazine, from a Staff Car Saga author who was having demisting issues on a Peerless GT; fit a 12V Marine bilge fan/blower in the air intake trunking to the heater, to give it a boost in demisting pressure - they blow approx 130-145 cfm, and would be fairly simple to wire in, maybe even using the existing blower switch.

It would appear a 3" version would fit the Minor's air intake trunking, such as this one (the only compact one I could find in black):
https://tinyurl.com/rodb39v
this is exactly what I keep meaning to install, partially because my current fan squeals like no tomorrow when cold (I need to grease the bearings) and that it doesn't push enough air. I'm always slightly worried about wiring required as my knowledge of car electrics is very low!
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geoberni
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Re: Improved heater

Post by geoberni »

Basil's 'genuine after-market' period heater is very good. As I have a temp gauge fitted, if I put the heater on I can see a noticeable drop of at least a needle width when it's going.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=70734&hilit=heater#p643284
Basil the 1955 series II

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Declan_Burns
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Re: Improved heater

Post by Declan_Burns »

I put a 76 cfm computer speed controlled fan in the Smiths round heater that I installed in the MG TD earlier in the year. It only draws 0.45Amps and kind to the weak old dynamo. The original fan motor was drawing close to 5Amps and would barely blow out a candle. The heater is now quite efficient. I reversed the flow so that cold air is drawn in from the front, through the fan and then deflected radially via a plastic funnel bolted to the back of the heater. It works a treat and you can hardly hear it (30dBA)
Regards
Declan
Attachments
Before
Before
Smiths_round_heater_2.jpg (240.05 KiB) Viewed 2182 times
After
After
Smiths_round_heater_7.jpg (1.66 MiB) Viewed 2182 times
Rear
Rear
Smiths_round_heater_8.jpg (373.21 KiB) Viewed 2182 times


Regards
Declan
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