When I first got my camaro, I gutted it completely to start from scratch. The only thing I left was the wiring from the lights and from the steering column. I rewired everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I was origianally gonna make it a drag car, but over the past year Ive changed my mind. That being said.....

I ripped out my ac components, fan box, all controls, everything "climate control" related. Im wanting to put some kind of heater in, and me and a few guys I work with were talking about it. Just mounting a basic heater core under the dash somewhere, running the coolant hoses to it, put a fan behind the heater core (ive got an industrial one, so thats no problem ), then just either aim it towards the passenger floorboard, or route it to the stock ducts (which I also took out ).

What do you guys think? Im also thinking of putting in some kind of bypass valve or something so hot coolant isnt running into the cab during the summer. But I believe that the stock bypass valve is vaccum operated. I was thinkin of some kind of electronic one. Anyone know what Im talking about?

I know I can always put in a 1LE fan box, but I still dont like the look. Plus, I dont want ac, I dont need "vent", I just want some kind of heater for the winter, and a band-aid if my car starts to slightly overheat in traffic. Criticism wanted on this, just as long as its contructive

 

i'm thinking your idea probably won't work the greatest but, what do i know.

I do know 1 thing! wnter= cold near me, in other some heat is better than none.

 

what do you mean it wont work? please tell me. Like I said, Im open to criticism. This is just an idea I thought of today while at lunch, so it might not be the most effecient, but itll get heat into the car.

 

Your idea will work with proper ducting. Try searching ebay for "cab heater" or "tractor heater" It would save you rigging it up yourself and cost about 60-100 bucks. Thats what I run in my el camino, it's a small 8" by 12" box with integral fan, vents, and heater core. It's compact and kicks out enough heat to just about melt your shoes, also noisy on the high setting/ low is quiet and works awesome! you probably wouldnt need as large of unit as I am running.. They also sell electric 300watt heaters through northern or harbor freight, napa, etc. they also sell the "cab" heaters. You'll probably want some kinda defrost vents also? my car has no heater and it's a PITA when its raining/ cold in the morning/ foggy having to wipe the window with a rag.. I think i'll go with the electric for weight reasons, the cab type heater is the better option tho.
-Michigans' wonderful upper penninsula= currently 30 degrees outside!

-Ben

 

Hot rocks or one hairy dog I prefer a Saint Bernard with the booze around his neck .Defrost will be tough mybe rig up a hair dryer . I had an electric one in my van and it plug in to the lighter that was crap . You could loop it in the summer , and I think I have seen T valve with a garden like spicket at napa that you can get too under the hood . If not look at plumbing stuff .

 

They sell automotive electric heaters $60 at any parts store and they work fairly well. Of course I seen some smaller ones at Harbor Freight that were $10. You could get a few of these $10 ones and have full zone climate controll.

 

An old trick was to mount a heater core in a milk crate or something like that and set it on the floor next to you - run the hoses, and put a fan behind it. Looks stupid, but I had a real junky car like that once.

I also knew some people that had no heater, and they used a propane torch to unthaw windows while driving.

Neither idea is advisable.

 

Get a Hibachi.


Then you can cook some dogs and keep warm this winter.

 

Using too much hot air in one spot could crack your windshield. I tried the heater core/ seperate fan thing and it didn't work nearly as well as the cab heater. The cab heater also saved a ton of fabricating, all I had to do was wire up the two-speed switch, connect the hoses, mount the sucker and run some defrost piping. Well worth the eighty bucks or whatever it was and saved a bunch of room vs. the stock heater ducting.

 

wow, thanks for the replies guys. I didnt realize I had that many options!

Ill check out Harbor freight tomorrow to see if the have a cab heater or some other kind of auto heater. About how big are they? I mean is it possible to still hide it up under the dash? I got my MSD box mounted right about where the heater core used to go, so I might have to move it around a little to make it work I guess.

 

I removed all the AC and heater stuff on my car also.
I left the defroster ducts in. I use two of those 12volt winter accessory heaters that you set on your dash to clear the window while the car is warming up on a winter day.
I hard wired them into the dash fan switch so that one comes on or both come on. The discharge temp is 100*F and two are enough to defrost the windshield in a reasonable amount of time and will warm the car up. Mount them so they blow into the defroster duct and up to the window.

Looks stock and works good enough even at 0*F.

Should be all you need for Georgia winters.