Morris Minor Owners Club

Heater with the snorkel drawing air through the crossmember.


So a question for those with the above heater set up - what is the quality of air drawn through the cross member like?
Are you getting engine smells in?

First time I've seen a 'Fresh Air Conversion Kit' fitted.

I wonder how many they ever sold? I don't know if they were ever 'factory fit'....

That was the standard set-up for several years as I recall - with a cable operated from the parcel shelf to open and shut a flap in the intake.

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Fri Apr 30, 2021 1:59 pm That was the standard set-up for several years as I recall - with a cable operated from the parcel shelf to open and shut a flap in the intake.

Agreed. I've had a couple of cars with this set up, including my current 1962 948 4-door. It was standard equipment rather than a conversion kit per se, though I suppose you could argue it's a conversion of the earlier set up.

RE the OP's query, no, I've never had any issues with poor quality air or engine smells, and using the 'fresh air' function (through pulling the knob out) helps the heater demist the windows a little better. You do also get a small amount of ram air effect with it when the heater fan is off.

They are very common here in the States since 1959 had by far the highest import volume. It was introduced late in 58. There is enough pressure differential to create a low air flow. Even with the fan on I've never experienced any engine odors.

Thanks for the replies.
Martin

The air is drawn from holes right next to the wheel arches then through the bulkhead box section so its not drawing from the engine bay...

Taupe

Hi Martin,

I have this set up on my 1963 car - no engine smells at all - I tend to leave the vent open all the time!

All the best,

Pete

Thanks Taupe, I'm repairing this area on the N/S at the moment with reference to your build. I will be adding a plate over the toe board and an angle iron brace (ala JLH) to help support the crossmember that will be modified for the ford engine.
I was thinking of using this brace to channel the air from the wheel arch ends up to the heater via trunking leaving the middle part alone to keep as much strength there as possible.

Any pictures of the Ford conversion

Oh no - a long way off. I ve got loads to do just to get the shell into shape

Looking forward to seeing it

I have to admit I blocked my air intake off as I was getting engine smells in. Not sure it helped much but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I have never felt inclined to remove the plate I sandwiched between thr air intake and the floor.

Were you only getting the engine smell with the vent open? Can't say I have ever experienced that myself.

I was trying to stop engine smells. If you look at the vent control its hard to beleive the dlzpn ould stop 100% of thr fumes getting in this way.

That said I still had the r problem once I sealed this up