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Guys with race cars or southern cars, who have deleted their heater box, have you done anything to retain some defrost functionality?
At the very beginning and very end of the season, sometimes we do have a need for windshield defrost or defrog. due to how I'm running the downpipe on my turbo, I can't really have the heater box.
I'm tryin to decide if I want to try and run a blower under the dash to go through the heater core, or just buy an inline blower/heater combo (like what is used in marine applications) and duct it to the windshield.
The newish Vintage Air kit stuffs everything into an under dash unit. Not cheap and you're pulling the entire dash out but full HVAC with a delete plate in the bay is pretty slick.
The newish Vintage Air kit stuffs everything into an under dash unit. Not cheap and you're pulling the entire dash out but full HVAC with a delete plate in the bay is pretty slick.
Those are cool, especially on the Corvettes.
Ideally, I'd like to avoid having to run the heater hoses from the LS water pump.
I'd be interested in finding one too. I have no room under the hood and considered this all in one unit from Summit https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-991108 but you still have to run hoses. Ideally an all electric, under the dash one would be nice, for early or end of season nights or when I get caught in the rain.
I'd be interested in finding one too. I have no room under the hood and considered this all in one unit from Summit https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-991108 but you still have to run hoses. Ideally an all electric, under the dash one would be nice, for early or end of season nights or when I get caught in the rain.
Brian
They make some 12 volt heaters with a 4" tube nipple. I'm thinking if most of the hvac stuff is removed it could be used, BUT directing it to the defrost vents might be tricky. I wonder if it would be better to somehow get it into the factory box.
This unit is 110v so you would need an inverter. A 2000 watt would probably work just fine as the heater is rated for 1500w.
But there is the question of how hot it would get vs a heater core. Heater core probably 240f max. This thing might get double that and melt the plastic.
I live in Michigan, so we obviously get cold. I do not have any HVAC at all. I have never had any fogging/frost issues, even when driving in the rain, when super humid, etc. Just crack the windows and you're good to go. Park inside to avoid frost.
The only reason I have not looked into a heating solution(even though it would make the lady happy) is that they simply draw too many amps for my already maxed out alternator.
The newish Vintage Air kit stuffs everything into an under dash unit. Not cheap and you're pulling the entire dash out but full HVAC with a delete plate in the bay is pretty slick.
Yeah, brother! That's getting bookmarked for later.
Yeah, brother! That's getting bookmarked for later.
I'd be interested to see photos of the actual unit. It says "For cars with factory AC". Concerns me that it might require something in the engine bay. But still cool.
I live in Michigan, so we obviously get cold. I do not have any HVAC at all. I have never had any fogging/frost issues, even when driving in the rain, when super humid, etc. Just crack the windows and you're good to go. Park inside to avoid frost.
The only reason I have not looked into a heating solution(even though it would make the lady happy) is that they simply draw too many amps for my already maxed out alternator.
I get window fogging a lot here in NH in early spring and mid fall. Typically I only run the sports cars in the summer, but the race car would be early april until late october.
I'd be interested to see photos of the actual unit. It says "For cars with factory AC". Concerns me that it might require something in the engine bay. But still cool.
Read the installation instructions on the Vintage Air website....
I'd be interested to see photos of the actual unit. It says "For cars with factory AC". Concerns me that it might require something in the engine bay. But still cool.
I may do vintage air eventually on my C4.
You need the factory A/C because you adapt the ducting in the dash I think. If you're in for an enthralling hour of excitement, you can watch some dudes install the whole thing:
I get that I can buy the evaporator only kit and then remove the evaporator, I just wish I could buy just the box / blower / heater core.
You'd think a smaller box would be available too as I wouldn't need the evaporator, but I also realize that air conditioning is their thing. Most people probably are ok with their OEM heat.
You need the factory A/C because you adapt the ducting in the dash I think. If you're in for an enthralling hour of excitement, you can watch some dudes install the whole thing:
Got around to watching the video. It doesn't appear to use any of the OEM ducting or AC components, just the vent holes. I do like the defrost vent it comes with with the dual 3" hoses.
I took my heater core out earlier, I think I'm going to remove the rest of the factory ducting. I wonder if vintage air would sell me just a few components. I'll reach out to them and ask. I have no need for the AC, Controls, or floor/dash ducts. Just looking for window defrost.
I'm still learning towards an electric heater element, but if the hoses were run under my turbo and over the inner wheel well (sort of how VA runs theirs) I guess it wouldn't be too terrible.
Spoke to vintage air. They seem pretty good about buying individual parts.
For my purposes, I'm going with the third gen dash defrost (windshield) ducts. Driver-Side Defrost Hose Adapter 592948 $18.00
Passenger-Side Defrost Hose Adapter 592947 $18.00
Defrost Bracket 649649 $38.00
Then I'm using the Gen II heater, 506101 $304.99
This will work well for me. The heater controls will allow me to run windshield defrost and or heater vents, which I prefer to run at the floor . Toasty toes and a defrosted windshield will do the trick.
The gen II heater also comes with an electronic controlled heater valve which goes inline with the hose, so hot coolant wont run through the core when you are not calling for heat.
-- Joe
Last edited by anesthes; Nov 30, 2023 at 12:28 PM.
