So with the onset of winter, and following a freezing trip over the hills between Whitfield and Mansfield I decided to refit the heater to my K. This is the under-bonnet unit, which is basically a heater core and an air flap in a big steel box. This is what it looked like after I plucked it out of a box of junk in the garage:



I pulled it apart, cleaned it and gave it a nice fresh coat of gloss enamel, and it looks awesome now. Surprisingly the heater core was in really good nick, so I got lucky there.

Next came the plumbing. Off to Clarks for some heater hose, and a length of 80mm air duct to feed the warm air to the inlet in the firewall. Heater hose was easy, but 80mm air duct is impossible to find. More on that a little later.

Last time the engine was out the bottom hose looked to have been replaced with one without the heater outlet -- bugger, that promised to be a sod of a job getting the radiator out and back in to replace the hose. Sourced a pair of hoses from minis.com.au, and spent an afternoon skinning my knuckles getting the radiator out, and what do I find? The bottom hose already had a heater outlet, but had been fitted upside-down. #$@*!^&* !!

Next challenge was a missing cylinder head outlet pipe. Someone (thanks whoever you were!) pointed me to Mini King and $3 later that was sorted. While on the phone I asked them if they had the 80mm duct for this heater, a few minutes later they confirmed that yep, they've got some NOS but it's exxy, $56 for the length.. it's only 30cm long ferchrissake. Anyway, gotta have it, can't find it anywhere else so yep, chuck it in the post.

Couple of days later the box showed up, and it's huge -- turns out they've sent me 100mm Clubbie ducting (the stuff under the wheel arch), which is no good to me. @#$&^*#$@&*!!

So at this point I've got everything ready to go, but no way to get the hot air into the car. Googling for ducting was no help, all it was returning was PC stuff. Wait a minute... this looks promising!



80mm mylar ducting with spring steel ribbing, and flanges either end to accept standard 80mm 12V PC case fans. There's an idea..

So, I bought two lengths, removed the flanges from one end and sandwiched a high-capacity 80mm case fan between the two ducts. A $5 variable-speed fan controller and a toggle switch completed the setup, now I've got variable fan-assisted heating / fresh air

_________________
Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Looking good. Now go to Bias Boating or Whitworths and grab a 3" Attwood bilge blower. Stick it in that 80mm ducting. Then the heater will work in traffic, too.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

nice work Simon



that's what his PC case fan is doing in the ducting Kev

_________________
did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Some of the Ks had a heater flap inside the car as well right? Under the dashboard and to the right of the pedals?

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Yes, mine has that - closed it directs 100% of the air to the windscreen, open it allows warm air onto the driver's feet. Shame it's not cable-operated though, I've gotta reach way under the dash to move it.

_________________
Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Thought so, that was my next question..how did it open and close..
I've got one of those flaps here somewhere, can't bring myself to give it the flick, but it's not something people look for very often...

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I never thought it'd happen, but I've had to turn the fan down a few times because the car was getting too hot

_________________
Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Looks good.

The PC case fan is a brilliant idea. At least you have a heater that actually works!

_________________
"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Nice work. Got a link or cost for that PC ducting you used?

_________________
Too many cars, and too little time.

I got mine from coolpc.com.au, $19 ea (I used two). It's important to note that it's not quite 80mm in diameter, more like 78mm.. which means it won't fit over the heater outlet or inlet. It's a pretty neat fit inside though, so I just used a little gaffa tape to seal it.

_________________
Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges