Hot air recirculation help

[jonbarrett]

I'm planning on doing the hot air recirculation mod this week end but I'm in danger if getting it wrong. Can anybody help. First I need to get the theory right.

1) At present cold air comes through the nearside wing, throught the heater matrix and into the cab, so I:

a) Block the wing with foam (OK with that)

b) Cut a hole in the top of the passenger footwell kick panel to let air easily flow from the cab to the void behind the kick panel (OK with that)

c) Cut a hole in a body panel behind the kick panel to let the air flow back through the heater matrix. (This is where I'm stuck)

I don't know how big the hole should be, which panel to cut and where on that panel the hole should be. I was planning on using a hole saw.

There are layers of carpet, foam etc making it difficult to see. Also there are lots of cables and pipes in that area. I'm worried that if I get it wrong I cut through a hidden cable or pipe of fail to direct the air behind the matrix.

I can see two water pipes passing through the side wall which I assume are attached to the heater matrix. However, I don't know how the matrix is positioned behind the panel. If I cut in the wrong place I might hit the matrix itself.

Does anyone have a diagram, photo or explanation that would help?

Thanks

[Cerbdog]

Sorry i can't help, but would love to know what a hot air re-circ mod is and the benefits?

[JensenA]

Cerbdog said:

Sorry i can't help, but would love to know what a hot air re-circ mod is and the benefits?

Ditto - never heard of this one before. Are you intending to have no fresh air coming into the car (to be heated up), and just having the air thats already in the cabin being heated up again. Within 10 minutes your car will will be all fogged up!

[jonbarrett]

It's an official TVR modification. I'll see if I can dig out and post the Bulletin.

It's mainly designed to reduce the cabin air pressure and stop the windows popping out of their seals at high speeds . It might only apply to older models, I'm not sure.

[jonbarrett]

Your wish is my command.



I've also found another thread with picutures regarding the heater box position and removal. Once again the form rocks.

[JensenA]

Ahh right...didn't realise this was an official mod - we live and learn
The word 'recirculation' in your thread threw me

My car already has this, I'd noticed nefore that the top of the passenger wing was blocked off, and theres a hole with a grille in it in the passenger footwell. Not sure what else the mod entails, but if you need any help with pics etc, just shout.

[jonbarrett]

I'm guessing these is a grill in the 'roof' of the kickplate and, if you take the kickplate out, a hole in the plate covering the heater matrix.

If you had time, a pic of each (plus a pic of the blocked wing) would be excellent.

I'll photograph and note the whole process for the illustrated DIY manual that another member is suggesting.

[Luckyone]

I did this a few years back, put the pics of the holes I cut on this thread http://pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&f...
Works quite well if you get stuck with anything give me a shout – I’m bored at work all weekend

[JensenA]

John - The fptos on the thread from 'luckyone' are just as clear as the ones I've take - in fact spookily enough his car is exactly the same colour as mine!
Couldn't be a**s*d to take photos of the inner wing, but it is just a piece of rigid foam bonded in the narrow area of the inner wing at the top of the wheel arch.

[Luckyone]

JensenA said:

John - The fptos on the thread from 'luckyone' are just as clear as the ones I've take - in fact spookily enough his car is exactly the same colour as mine!
Couldn't be a**s*d to take photos of the inner wing, but it is just a piece of rigid foam bonded in the narrow area of the inner wing at the top of the wheel arch.

Ah a man with taste
I take it you mean interior? We though about a pearl white one too, very spooky.

[jonbarrett]

Thanks chaps I now have all I need. I remembered that past thread but could not find it.

I've stripped out everything in the footwell, cut a section out of the heater cover and side carpet to let air flow from the cab to the blower. I just need to cut the hole in the kickplate and the interior is finished.

My plan for the wing is to stuff a foam football into the inner wing provided the ball is big enough. Someone else suggested filling a plastic bag with expanding foam, another good idea.

While I was doing the interior I also:

a) Sucked the leaves out of heater cavity
b) Ironed the carpet sections and re-glued the foam backing
c) Discovered an audio amplifier, jiggled it about and now I have front speakers. Excellent.

It's hail stoning now so the wing will have to wait until tomorrow.

Thanks everyone.

[Ireland]

jonbarrett said:

..... Someone else suggested filling a plastic bag with expanding foam, another good idea....

A good idea but virtually impossible to do.

Well I failed miserably but I reckon if I had the headlight out it'd have been ok.

I'm interested in this one BIG TIME as I went to Dublin and back (about a 200 mile round trip) last night and nearly froze in the car with the cold air leaking in at my feet.

Plus my heater is crap.


BTW, has anyone fitted a higher temperature stat?

Mine opens at 72*C which obviously isn't enough.

In traffic the car is fine but at motorway speeds it's really cold.

[JensenA]

Ireland - I don't think this will cure the cold feet problem, I have the mod done on my ar and I still get a lot of cold air in the driver footwell at anything over 60. It's my next job to try and find out just where that cold air is coming from, I'll let you know how I get on.

[mikesr]

I suffered cold feet at motorway speeds.

I pulled the carpet out in the driver footwell and found a gap of a couple of centimetres around the panel thats supposed to cover the cold fan.
The fan sticks out into the footwell so the panel doesn't fit flush.
Self tappers and sikaflex cured the gaps. Whilst I was at it I dismantled the cows udder and made sure all the hoses to it were sealed properly.

No more cold feet.