V8 and liquid cooled guys..., Want to install a heater??? Here's mine Options

[Mike Bellis]

It gets cold here in Northern California often in the moorning. So I decided to build a liquid heater. First, I spent some time measuring the inside of the fresh air box. I figured I could fit a core 11x6 maximum. my son and I spent several hours at the local Pick and Pull junk yard. I settled on a Transmission cooler from a late model Ford Truck. Cooler measures 10x6.



I quick placement and I realize I need to cut! The water dam for the fan must be cut down. Make sure not to cut all of it so that it will still keep some water off the motor.



The finish cut to the dam. Ready for the lid? Not yet.

[Bruce Hinds]

Even running the heat on high with the exchanger in the fresh air box while living in Colorado I never had a problem with the system holding up to the heat.

I used a simple "T" in each of the lines running under the car to the radiator the heater core, one in, one out. I also used a high flow thermostat. It has openings around the plunger that always allows some flow.

It is always easier for the car to draw water through both the radiator and the heat exchanger than it is to just draw through the radiator. Heat and defrost is always available through the dash controls.

[ruby914]

Even running the heat on high with the exchanger in the fresh air box while living in Colorado I never had a problem with the system holding up to the heat.
Heat and defrost is always available through the dash controls.

Bruce,
Just how hot and fast do you get heat?
Maybe compared to an air cooled 914.
I would think with one fan you have much less flow.
I am convinced there is no meltdown problem in your system.
What can't determine is how hot and fast this system would work with my WRX.
I was working on the front of my car the other day, with it running, and it seemed like 5 min before the fans turned on. Seems it takes a lot of time to heat coolant where I think the manifold would go over 300 deg very fast.

Brett,
This blower is like the ones in some westy vans. Thinking if it will heat a van...
I looked at a lot of mimi van heating systems. I saw one in maybe a Astro or Aerostar van that looked like the complete unit would fit under the passenger foot bolster. It also had a very small heat exchanger. Personally I don't want any more in the passenger compartment.