Heat Matrix Removal

[gmw9666]

Wanting to refurb the heater matrix on the SEAC I challenged myself on figuring out how on earth the little radiator is removed from the metal housing without cutting it (clearly after opening up the heath robinson plastic box lol)

Well managed to sort so sharing on for others

The metal box looks to be welded together but is in fact just glued.....clearly 32 years old glue (which helps)

So follow these steps

Step 1, place on its side and get a large flat screwdriver to open up / break the glue



Step 2, the end slides outwards from its groves



Step 3, the rad has a little bit of silicon inbetween the ends so use a long thin knife to break the seal



Step 4, once the silicon seal is broken the rad pulls out, simple once you know lol

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Glen


Did you take any pics of when it was in the plastic box?...Im attempting taking out the dash over the winter to do mine...


Cheers

Ziga

[gmw9666]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Glen


Did you take any pics of when it was in the plastic box?...Im attempting taking out the dash over the winter to do mine...


Cheers

Ziga

Should have........got over 3000 resto pictures so far lol.......

[gmw9666]

Here you go Mark

Breaking it open was relatively straight forward

Get a big sharp pointy kitchen knife (no really) and a hammer and carefully break the plastic weld joints around the red arrows. They split open dead easy and you can slide the knife in, wiggle a bit and it opens up. Do both sides until it opens out. It looks to be made out of a big sheet of plastic and folded then welded. So it’s just a case of unfolding it.

I’ve no idea how I’ll restick it all back once refolded, perhaps some plumbers solvent weld and small plastic tabs?













And lastly

If anyone wants to know what is behind the massive plastic thing in the engine bay....f all lol

Edited by gmw9666 on Monday 7th January 20:09

Edited by gmw9666 on Monday 7th January 20:11

[mrzigazaga]

Lovely bit of engineering...reminds me of...

[adam quantrill]

Space for air con heat exchanger maybe?

[erik350i]

I replaced the heater matrix with a bigger one, so all the air is now passing through the matrix, and mounted a flow valve in the incoming water hose.
I now have lots of very warm air, also through the two dashboard air vents, very nice on chilly evenings with the roof down.

[gmw9666]

Little rad sorted and the housing with a nice fresh lick of paint

Now to put the jigsaw back together lol

[jon haines]

When you see it in the flesh what a st thing it is. Why did they not just use some other manufacturers heater system? it would have worked and been quicker to assemble. thanks for the pics as i need to do this and have needed too for years but keep putting it off.