Heater box anyone?

Riddler

Active Member
Not getting much in the way of any heat into my P6 3500S.
The fan blower is working, but when I select hot I am still getting just tepid/cool air into the car.
I am informed I probably need a new Smiths heater box.
Does anyone out there know where I can get one? Or does anyone have a good reconditioned or working second-hand one they would like to sell me?
I have tried Wadhams and Wins without success . . .
 
Hi.
New heating units do turn up at times but are a very rare item now .
As long as your engine reaches correct running temp and both heater hoses are blistering hot poor heating normally caused by fured up heater matrix ( flushing will not normally cure.) recon unit needed in most cases.
Foam sealing on internal flaps disintegrates.
As long as heater unit itself hasn't corroded through many can be overhauled once removed, have rebuilt a few myself and when refitted
had to turn heat down:)
Cheers.
Clive.
 
What Clive says! I rebuilt my heater box this summer. All of the foam had turned to dust. Heater control allowed for warm or very warm because foam seals no longer existed to shut off air flow.

If the matrix is blocked (you can't tell by flow as it has an internal bypass) you might find a radiator shop that'll either dismantle and ream the passage ways or rebuild with a new core.
 
I have a friendly radiator man who takes the matrix apart and rods them through.
I do keep a couple spare recon units just in case!
Clive.
 
I have a complete unit with a good matrix which requires overhaul of together seals. If you are interested get in touch.
 
I have a complete unit with a good matrix which requires overhaul of together seals. If you are interested get in touch.
Thanks for that but being a) not much of a fixer/mender and b) probably a bit lazy, I am trying to find a nice unit I can just get swapped straight in. However, will bear your offer in mind.
 
Hi riddler, demisterman.co.uk has replacement heater matrix, this maybe all you need, but as Clive points out, the internal foam seals deteriorate and more than likely will need replacing plus any rusting of the unit that will need attention. I've not long refurbished my heater unit, sandblasting, painting etc, it can be a fiddle job to dismantle, drilling pop rivets out to get to the internals and flaps. Maybe a radiator shop could tackle it for you or a panel and paint shop?? Good luck.

Heater Matrix Rover P6 Demisterman
 
Hi riddler, demisterman.co.uk has replacement heater matrix, this maybe all you need, but as Clive points out, the internal foam seals deteriorate and more than likely will need replacing plus any rusting of the unit that will need attention. I've not long refurbished my heater unit, sandblasting, painting etc, it can be a fiddle job to dismantle, drilling pop rivets out to get to the internals and flaps. Maybe a radiator shop could tackle it for you or a panel and paint shop?? Good luck.

Heater Matrix Rover P6 Demisterman
Thanks. I think I may have found someone who has a whole heater box I can swap in. But before I do I have been advised to check it is not just an airlock in there, or that the lever which switches it from cold to hot hasn't become detached.
 
just removed my heater unit ( series 2 v8) and found matrix was choked .drain cleaner etc. didn't work . so desoldered. one end ( not pipe end) an dropped through with a flattened wire coat hanger .. flushed with hose both ways an found massive amounts crud.rust etc coming out. desoldered and pressure tested with hose form mains ( we dont have high water pressure here so no risk blowing it apart) rebuilding and some foam turning to dust so replaced. broke the 'fork' bits on levers in box when removing ( grrr ) so had to fix those! found super air intake flap was not operating even though lever in car. goes through full range ...found it was due to the 'flap' getting stuck under top part of unit where clearly. weight? pressure? had been used and slightly deformed sheet metal under grill/grid section to interfere with it .simply pliers adjustment ..and hey ho all working. Head part not is getting box back in :( seems no matter what I try it won't easily fit back those 3 levers in the 2 square holes it came out off! have to wait until son visits I think see if between us a 15 lb sledge hammer we can persuade it to slot back in. well it did come out ..
 
update :) managed to wriggle box back in . easy. if you remove bracket for metal arm holding throttle parts. one bolt out .swing out of way . all bolted in and will progress slowly as plenty of time during lockdown. Carpet not due for another 2 weeks . so will start laying underfoot replacement soon ( foam ) . going to try adding a few pics . heater unit .matrix in and out . lower soldering can be seen plus the soldering 'iron' lol being a gas unit from kitchen you may see in a pic! works well as keeps small area. very hoy for soldering an uno risk desoldering. vanes . in one shot inside car w may see repaired actuating 'forks ' painted black. in another shot Cleary see both tuning ? forks broken and only 1 arm left out of 4 . not a chore I would hasten to do again but must admi, D372221E-63BD-4319-BE38-62C8EEB0E8E9.jpeg75BB643B-7DC6-42C8-8C4C-AC2A334E09B9.jpegD372221E-63BD-4319-BE38-62C8EEB0E8E9.jpeg75BB643B-7DC6-42C8-8C4C-AC2A334E09B9.jpeg with experience would be so much easier.
 

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I hope you left enough gas in that torch for a creme brulee.

Couple of years ago I swapped a radiator core at home with oxy and plumbers solder, went well.
 
didnt use blow torch as slight risk delaminating cooling vanes if excessive heat .chef torch allowed local heating and easily hot enough though sadly no brûlée lol
 
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