Heater box

Marc Verspecht

Marc Verspecht

Member
Hi everybody , would like to a upgrade on the heater box , because I still don't have any head coming in the interior.
I have already changed the matrix , but still no heat . I now that some off you have changed the fan . But finding a fan from a Austin metro is looking for a needle I a haystack . Is there en alternatieve for the fan .I now that you also can put new foam in the box but would like to now how to proceed . It would be nice if I could have some information
Kind regards Marc.
 
Ok, l started work on mine today.

With the two fans side by side, you can see the larger diameter & much beefier blades of the Metro unit along with the increased length of it:

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Actually l've just noticed that the blades are in opposing directions so the new fan will be turning the other way to the original.

The fan aperture before & after widening, not that you'd really notice. I finished it off with some plastic edging trim l have laying around:

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In the first picture of the units you can see the Metro one had a right angle bracket attached. At first l thought l could use this (& a matching one made & fixed to the other side) to fix the solid mount plate to the motor. I got as far as drilling some rivet holes but it became apparent that spacing the front mount plate up would create a air gap that would need filling & the motor wouldn't be damped from the case. The obvious way to go (it takes me time) is to increase the spacer height between the flexible mount bracket & mount plate. I ground the bracket off to allow the front plate down the casing & though no doubt completely unnecessary, l plugged the holes in the plate with rivets:

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I found some spacers that are twice the height of the originals & have put them in place. I won't know if this is enough to stop the fan bottoming out on the case until l go back up the workshop tomorrow. If it does l'll add the originals too with some longer bolts. Hopefully it'll fit as is & l won't have to fettle the backplate as much as l think l might have to:

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If it is needed maybe a couple of washers added on each bolt would be enough to clear it.
More to follow.
 
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Hey Marc
I have a Metro motor left over that I did not fit to my car.
I know I paid £40.00 for a whole heater box and took the motor out. I'll sell it to you for £35.00 plus the shipping to Belgium.

Mark
 
cobraboy said:
Hey Marc
I have a Metro motor left over that I did not fit to my car.
I know I paid £40.00 for a whole heater box and took the motor out. I'll sell it to you for £35.00 plus the shipping to Belgium.

Mark
Click to expand...
Hi I am interested , just need to see my friend tomorrow . I may have something to . I keep you informed . Thank you for your offer.
 
The Rovering Member said:
Actually l've just noticed that the blades are in opposing directions so the new fan will be turning the other way to the original.
Click to expand...

I don't remember using a unit that should turn the opposite way compared with the P6 fan. If this is the case, then it cancels the main purpose of the conversion. If you use this new fan turning the required way for the P6 heater box, obviously it would not be as efficient as it should. And of course you can't have it turning the opposite way than the P6 box requires, because it will do absolutely nothing!
Perhaps there was a change in the Metro heater box design between Mk1 and Mk2 models. I remember taking mine out of a plastic heater box.
 
Well l'm going by the fan blades & you can see the rotation arrow on the Metro fan. The P6 blades are cupped the other way round. It did come out of a plastic case, here it is:

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And here are the fan blades from the main air chamber, facing toward the top of the box:

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I hope l've not been wasting my time.
 
I'll also add this photo. I don't think the gap will be accommodated with a hammer:

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It's a meaty motor & the fan certainly has a kick so l'm loathe to give up on it before l've seen it in action. :hmm:
 
Marc Verspecht said:
I don't know if the plate is very important you still have enough clearance at the back in the firewall . I am curious to see how this is going to end .
Click to expand...
Hopefully there is somebody out there who has done the conversion en can guide us out of this problem , any help would be appreciated ladies and gentlemen .
 
Hi, It's a bit difficult to see from the pics but can the fan be put onto the motor shaft the other way round? This would ensure the right direction of rotation. If the motor body will go into the barrel of the fan a bit further it then could increase clearance behind the heater box against the bulkhead.
Another attempt could be putting the metro fan on the P6 motor, although it may not spin the fan up enough.

Colin
 
My brother is extending the back cover at this very moment & l am wondering about a clearance issue at the bulkhead. We'll see, if we can get this working then l suspect a major improvement in heatflow/demist.
I'm not sure on turning the fan, l'll rig it up tomorrow & make a judgement on the airflow.
 
I have modified both the heater box and the rear cover, so that the motor / fan could sit a little more forward. Sadly, i cannot find any photos of what i did back then.
In any case, in order to work with the P6 box, the fan has to spin anti-clockwise, as it is viewed from the driver's seat, in order to feed the galery on the top of the heater box.
 
Ok, well here's today's progress. Got the mounting plates spaced, used the originals too.
25mm was enough to clear the fan from the front of the casing & l used locking nuts so as not to flatten the suspension rubbers. You can just about turn the bolts by hand:

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Motor installed & the rear cover before & after modification. I do expect clearance issues. :hmm:

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It's got a coat of black drying on it now.

I think turning the fan on the shaft would solve the directional issue, the shaft may be long enough & perhaps some slight trimming of the blade ends would see off any contact issues with the motor body. The front of the fan wouldn't be open of course but l can't see any problems short of a vacuum forming. It's a very tight fit though as it has to be & l wouldn't want to damage it by trying to remove it. Has anyone any tips on this task?
I'll run it up before any attempt at this though so as to ascertain current performance as well as l can.
 
Looking at the label on the fan motor, try reversing the polarity so the motor turns the other way which may assist the fan going on the shaft the right way on.

Colin
 
Marc Verspecht said:
Hi cobra , I am going to take it can you give me your banc number en say how much I have to ad for the chipping . I am on fb en Messenger my email address is marc.verspecht@gmail.com
Kind regards Marc .
Click to expand...
OK cool.
I will email you.
Please be patient, I have just broken a bone in my left foot and cannot drive myself. I will find out the shipping asap.

Cheers

Mark.
 
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