TVR Wedge Heater unit

[mr-scott]

Does any one know if there is a production car heater unit (any alternative suggestions welcome) that will fit my '87 350i which I am restoring? The one that came with it looks like it was made on Blue Peter out of grey perspex sheet! I thought it would be nice to have a more 'professional' unit if possible, Thanks

[dickymint]

Dont have the answer but my thoughts have been turning towards this enigma as yet another cold Wedge Winter is aproaching I am undecided wether or not to replace the heater matrix in mine or keep looking at alternatives.
Best of luck and keep in touch if you find anything.

[Nacnud]

Heater matrix in mine is rubbish as well. Maybe none of the Wedges get a decent amount of heat in the cockpit.

During my rebuild I investigated taking the heat off the manifold (a la Audi) rather than a traditional matrix. This was mainly to get hot DRY air blown on the windscreen rather than get more heat, but it might just be the very thing.....

We didn't actually go ahead with the mod as at the time it was very hard to visualise with body off the car! I'm still tempted though...

[taz turbo]

Nacnud said:

Maybe none of the Wedges get a decent amount of heat in the cockpit.

All you need is a turbocharger mounted near to the bulkhead and the downpipe/exhaust running in close proximity to the transmission tunnel. That gets serious amounts heat into the car.

[mr-scott]

Hmmm, wouldn't putting a red hot turbo next to a rather flammable fibreglass bulkhead maybe get me more heat than I wanted - once! Unless I put loads of heat insulator/reflective material there - which would kind of defeat the object. Joking apart the V8 doesn't seem to have any room for turbo manifolds let alone turbo/s, cheers for the reply