Heater Matrix

Post by **jollyroger** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:07 pm

I would like to upgrade the heater in my 1969 saloon. Can anyone tell me if this mini heater on ebay would fit? Is it too young? What age of mini heaters will fit my moggy?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=020

Thanks

Rog

Post by **MoggyTech** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:23 pm

Almost a straight swap.

Post by **eastona** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:25 pm

How much difference would it make? My 1969 has a passable

heater, with a winter thermostat and radiator blind. It warms up fairly quickly and stays warm, even down to around -4.

Would a mini heater make it into a good

heater?

(radiator and system have been flushed, thermostat is new etc.)

Andrew

Post by **MoggyTech** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:28 pm

The only major difference between the two heaters, is the mini unit has a more efficient fan. The difference in perceived heat increase will be minimal, a thicker cardigan is the way to go

Or you can fit one of these

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=1783

Bull Motif Part Number HTR305

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 9:47 pm

Hi Rog the other thing that will improve your heater in the winter is to disconnect the fresh air pipe from the front of the car at the heater end and plug it with a scarf or piece of cloth that will then stop the nice blast of cold air coming up the pipe and straight onto the heater cooling it down and in effect making it into a recirculating type of heater rather than the fresh air type prefferred in the summer.

MoggyTech that link doesnt seem to work whats it for.

Post by **eastona** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:03 pm

uprated heater core. £39.95 anyone got one fitted?

agree with the pipe, may try it tomorrow.

although surprisingly toasty with just the muff and winter thermostat (I do around 27 miles to work in the morning though)

andrew

Post by **Stig** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 8:35 am

I've been after a Mini heater too but they seen to be in demand judging by the prices they go for on ebay. Looks like that uprated heater core would be much better value. Mine is terminally clogged up as I've tried removing and flushing it and it's still inadequate on cold mornings.

One thing about disconnecting & blocking the fresh air (which I've also done) is that the windows do mist up a bit more so you need to open the window occasionally.

Another improvement I got was to seal up the draughty quarterlight with sellotape!

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:39 am

I've been after a Mini heater too but they seen to be in demand judging by the prices they go for on ebay

They only used to go for £5 - £10 a while ago its got to be worth trying a local mini group to see if they can help, how much have they been going for.

Post by **dunketh** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:37 am

There was mention of being able to fit a mk3 Fiesta heater in the moggy heaterbox quite easily.
This also had the advantage of offering you a 3/4-speed fan.

There used to be a rough pencil sketch about the web detailing how it could be done. I'm sure someone will have a copy.

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:42 am

I've always found in every car I've ever owned that a faster blower only reduces the heating effect by dissipating the available heat through a greater quantity of air. So, unless you can make the heater core bigger, a faster fan is of questionable benefit.
This doesn't apply to demisting of course which is only exaserpated (in most damp Minors) by a warmer cabin. I use the wide open quarterlight method for the screen at least.

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:10 am

I finally fitted a working heater to Fenchurch last night. It's the earlier round type with the rheostat on the front and a flap that switches between fresh air (via the crossmember) and recirculating. On the drive to work this morning I encountered two problems: the air output from the demister vents is really feeble (especially the driver's side), and the engine isn't fully warmed up by the time I arrive at the office. I think the demister probably would have worked given another 20 minutes on the road, but after 15 minutes (the first 5 of which are spent coasting down a valley side) it'd only cleared about a third of the passenger side and a fifth of the driver's side. Opening the window is more effective than that (but very cold in this weather). I'm going to try and figure out what's wrong with the driver's side vent (probably just bent at a funny angle), replace the thermostat, and maybe blank off part of the heater outlet with duct tape to increase the proportion of air that goes to the demisters instead of directly into the cabin.

Post by **Orkney** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:12 pm

whilst were on heaters - old scabby's works fine - really blasts it out - all except for the windscreen vents - is that normal or do i need to be looking for mice nests ?

Post by **Stig** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:19 pm

Kevin wrote:
I've been after a Mini heater too but they seen to be in demand judging by the prices they go for on ebay
They only used to go for £5 - £10 a while ago its got to be worth trying a local mini group to see if they can help, how much have they been going for.

Between £15 and £35 + about £10 postage. Makes a new matrix seem like good value when you've no idea what condition the Mini heater would be in. Part of my interest is that the fan in my heater screeches like an angry elephant for the first half minute or so.

Post by **DaveC** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:22 pm

since doing the matrix clean out mine blasts it out too, but I put a new piece of foam in the flap to try and get the windscreen to demist better, but it is still not very good. I was gong to try and rig up an air re-circulating valve with an osma tee under the dash sometime, along the lines of Kevin's suggestion above

Post by **Stig** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:30 pm

Yep, replacing the old foam around the matrix is worth doing as well to stop the cold air zipping round the side of the matrix. Kate did a good video on refurbishing a heater a while ago. I'd post the link except our work net nanny has blocked it now.

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 6:01 pm

all except for the windscreen vents - is that normal or do i need to be looking for mice nests

You need to check the angle of the nozzle at the screen end of the pipe. It is formed from a specifically angled nozzle that attaches to the dash with two small, 'L' brackets. The brackets can bend (usually through fiddling with other dashboard componants such as gloveboxes, speedo or the heater itself) as the nozzle is not flush with the dash (about a 4mm gap all round) much of the air can end up being directed under the dash rather than on the screen.

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 6:10 pm

I suspect that might be what's happening on mine, particularly on the driver's side.

Post by **Orkney** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 7:37 pm

Handy advice Peetee cheers, will take a look !

Post by **Peetee** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:59 pm

You can get thin self adhesive foam strips from trim suppliers. when I find time I will use some of this stuff to attempt to seal the gaps at the nozzles and around the shell of the fan unit as mentioned by stig.

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:05 am

The heater in my minor also used to be staggeringly ineffective, however, taking the matrix out and flushing it *really thoroughly* with a hose, removing the thirty years of dead insect, replacing all the foam around it, switching my car to a higher temp thermostat and as a side point putting a thin gauze filter on the entry to avoid more dead insect issues has produced a heater which even in the -4/-5 region still produces really warm air and demists the car effectively....