Changing a round 1959 heater to a 1968 with external air

[GPO_Van]

Hi all

I have the dash components out including the glove boxes and parcel shelf, as I have rewired my traveller.
As I can access the heater I am thinking of changing the round 1959 recirculation heater to a 1968 square heater with external air input, (That I have spare, with air hose to front grill)

Will this improve the demisting and heating or am I wasting my time.

Comments recommendations and pitfalls please.

Thanks in advance
Reg

[bmcecosse]

It will make a huge difference to the heat output and the de-misting. Well worth doing if you don't mind not being 'original'.

[mike.perry]

You will have the benefit of heated "fresh" air so you will not have to run the fan to get heat. You will need the later front grill panel with the fitting for the trunking and you may find that the heater will not fit on the short parcel shelf

[bmcecosse]

Find a heater from an 1100 (Austin/Morris transverse engine type ) - they are massively effective as long as the engine is kept revving to drive water round the matrix. Seem to be hard to find - don't see any on ebay at the moment. But they are a great heater if you can find one.

[IslipMinor]

Yes, later front panel and you will need the later, deeper parcel shelf. Then, without taking the new heater to bits, but with a bit of fiddling, you can fit the original rheostat from the circular heater into the later box to replace the on/off switch. You get a fully variable fan speed as well as a better heater!

I have fitted a later Mini core into the fresh air heater and that gives quite boost to the output.