Stupid heater!

Sooo, finally got around to pulling the old heater out and found that the cowl vent box and ducting has died of old age. The vent flap on the box has disinegrated to the point that it is permanently open because most of it is missing. The cable does not have the power to move it any more. This is also the source of wet feet when it rains. I looked for a replacement on the internet last night to no avail. Called Mile Hi Jeep Rebuilders and found out the boxes in good shape are few and far between. Does anyone have a suggestion on something that would work? I was thinking of sealing off the vent and re-circulating the inside air by leaving the intake open. Would that pose a problem? All the guy at Mile High could tell me is to go with an aftermarket heater but I would rather not if I don't have to.

 

Thanks Lynn. Good idea but I really use my glove box. BTW, where is the fresh air coming in for that heater?

 

So no matter what set up you have it's safe to seal the cowl vent? I know there is plenty of fresh air in my jeep. Way too fresh in the winter!

 

The problem with recycling inside air is: well at least up here in the North when it is cold is, fogging of windows or even frost on them when below zero. Fresh air seems to solve that problem. I'm not sure if a Jeeps natural draftiness is enough to help overcome this problem or not. I haven't driven my 73 in the extreme cold yet. When I had a 62 Cj5 with metal top the windows were fogged all the time(and it was still drafty). I used to call the heater in the 62 a "hand warmer" (and only one hand at a time at that) The 73 appears to have a much better heater. If you aren't in a big hurry for it I may have an extra heater box. I have a 74 parts Jeep, problem is I haven't checked out the heater in my 73 or removed the heater from the 74. I can move that up to the top of the "things to do list". I am assuming that the "flapper" door is metal with a rubber gasket around the edges, I don't know. I'd pull the one from the 74 right now except it is raining at this time.

 

I have a few extra heater boxes, what I need is the cowl vent box. It is an rectangular box that is mounted in the top/center behind the dash. I'm not sure about the rubber gasket, if there was one it's long gone. It has an oval shaped duct that runs to the intake on the heater box. If you might have one of these that would be great. Please let me know when you get around to removing it.

 

I take it your talking about that box right under the intake vent screen. It has a thin rubber drain hose on the bottom of it exiting just under the battery box with a sort of one way rubber valve at the end of it. IIRC both vehicles still have this part. I will check it out and get back to you.

 

Cool! Let me know.

 

I just looked and it looks like I will have an extra including the drain hose. The duct hose leading from it to the heater box is shot, but it looks an awful lot like clothes dryer vent hose. I didn't measure the ID of it. But it may also be available from automotive sources. IH 80 & 800 Scouts may be the same ID also. It looks a lot easier to remove than the heater box so I should be able to get it off tomorrow if it isn't raining. I'll keep you posted.

 

Thanks Cam!

 

I got it off, it wasn't all that hard of a job. Here's what I have: the box that goes right under the cowl vent, it contains the air door, Also the drain hose that hooks to the bottom and exits out through the firewall, the rubber"flapper type" valve that goes on the end of the drain tube.
The sponge rubber seal on the air door should work, but I would recomend replacing it because it aint perfect. It shouldn't be all that hard of a job. You need to find a piece of sponge rubber approx 1/8 to 3/16 inch thick. It is sandwiched beteen 2 pices of metal that are riveted together. simply grind off and/or drill out the rivets. Cut the rubber seal to size, insert between the 2 metal plates and rivet or even pop rivet back together and you should be good to go. It would still work as is but may not last forever. the box was sealed to the body with a "putty" like substance that reminded me of some consruction sealants used on metal buildings to seal between metal sheets. It used to come in strips on a roll separated by paper. Any good type sealer should work though. The oval shaped ducting was missing. 76 and later Jeeps also used oval ducting but I don't offhand know if it is the same size or not. I am sure that it can be found. To get the box out you have to remove(as you prolly already know) the other heater box as well. It is only secured with 4 nuts accessible from under the hood. In one of your posts you mentioned water leakage. That could have been from the drain tube from the intake box, but there is also a small drain hose exiting from the fan housing (appros 3/8 to 1/2 in diam) this is often missing.I would guess this was to remove condensation. While you have the other heater box out you may also want to rebuild the door seals in it as well. I aint telling you what to do just some suggestions. Jeep heaters need all the help they can get. Let me know if you still want it and I can get it boxed up Mon or Tues. Good luck

 

That sounds great Cam. Let me know how much you want for it and the cost of shipping it to zip code 80917. If you are set up for Paypal I could send funds that way. If not I could get a check in the mail Monday. Send me a private message with all of your information and I'll get back to you with my address.
Thanks,
Jody