Modern heating for a classic car - looking for advice

[poordecisions]

Hi All,

I have a 73 Alfa GT Junior 1600 which is a good little car and really good fun on its new sports suspension, but the thing that stops me using it so much in the winter is the heating. This isn’t so much for the heat (though that is nice!), but for screen clearing etc. Classic alfa now so heated screens, but some warmth would be good too.

The heating units in the Alfa’s are, to put it mildly, poo. I’ve replaced the fan unit 3 times in the time that I’ve owned the car, and the heating matrix tends to block up or leak. When it does work, it doesn’t work well.

Are there any modern solutions to this? I’m not too bothered whether it doesn’t look original (better if it does, obviously), but for me the car is for using, so if it makes me use it then it’s only a good thing.

Thanks,

Will

[757]

Can't help you with your question, but using a classic car in the winter literally sends "shivers" down my spine!

I have a 1966 VW Beetle, and I have removed the heat exchangers to J-Tubes (so no heat at all now) as they were rot magnets!

As much as I love driving it and I did drive it a few times to work in the colder months, that novelty soon wore off! i

It's definitely something I put away over winter now, and drive it over spring and summer only.

Sorry I can't help, not helpful I know

[steveo3002]

heated seat kit +heated jacket might bring some comfort

[droopsnoot]

When I was looking to get the heater matrix refurbished in my Vauxhall I found a site that, as well as offering that service, sold new heater matrices but then best part was, their site had a big list of dimensions and pipe locations. That allowed me to find a modern heater matrix that would fit almost straight in to my car, and does provide more heat because it's an alloy matrix instead of the old brass one with more dense fins. I had to do a little modifying, but the replacement matrix for my car is often £19 on ECP if you catch them on the right day.

I think this is the catalogue: http://www.vehicleheaters.co.uk/Heater%20Matrix%20...

[Escort3500]

Car Builder Solutions sell various heater units which it appears could be ducted up to the windscreen for clearing as well as into the car interior

[poordecisions]

757 said:

Can't help you with your question, but using a classic car in the winter literally sends "shivers" down my spine!

I have a 1966 VW Beetle, and I have removed the heat exchangers to J-Tubes (so no heat at all now) as they were rot magnets!

As much as I love driving it and I did drive it a few times to work in the colder months, that novelty soon wore off! i

It's definitely something I put away over winter now, and drive it over spring and summer only.

Sorry I can't help, not helpful I know

I totally agree! This is for probably once a fortnight though, im not so optimistic to think it’s a daily.

I have an electric car for that (blasphemy)

[poordecisions]

Escort3500 said:

Car Builder Solutions sell various heater units which it appears could be ducted up to the windscreen for clearing as well as into the car interior

Brilliant, hadn’t seen them. I think that’s probably the answer. At least the matrix won’t leak!

[996Type]

Demon Tweaks sell an electric unit that I’m considering to replace an old heater matrix, as I’ve had a couple of classic cars in the past where the water matrix failed and it caused a lot of issues. You need to ensure you have the power to drive it and be able to wire it in with relays etc but it may do the job:

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/demon-tweeks-12v-600w...

[shalmaneser]

It's an expensive option but there are normally some options for retrofitting a/c which does a fine job of demisting, and also makes the car more useable in the summer.

[Bluebottle911]

shalmaneser said:

It's an expensive option but there are normally some options for retrofitting a/c which does a fine job of demisting, and also makes the car more useable in the summer.

Yes, I am having aircon fitted to my E-type, for both those reasons. Cost is approx. £5K, IIRC. It will be money well-spent if it works.

[lowdrag]

"When I was a lad" heaters were an optional extra for most affordable cars, and in every car was to be found a rug for the passengers. And as far as the screen was concerned we carried half a potato which we used to rub on the inside of the screen. Worked wonders it did. On another note, last month I did a rally in the E-type, top down, and we encountered thick fog. Now that was a problem, because it clung both to the outside and inside of the screen! But we always carry two small towels and what with the wipers they saved the day for us. They are usually carried for rain running down the inside of the screen when water seeps through the header rail.

[aeropilot]

poordecisions said:

Escort3500 said:

Car Builder Solutions sell various heater units which it appears could be ducted up to the windscreen for clearing as well as into the car interior

Brilliant, hadn’t seen them. I think that’s probably the answer. At least the matrix won’t leak!

If you want something that looks more in period and will work, and won't be that much more expensive, look to the USA hot rod market, and the stuff Vintage Air make. These can be ordered through some of the UK Hot Rod suppliers, as well as direct from USA.
If you can find on Youtube or the Freeview TV repeats of Wheeler Dealers, this was the same system that Brewer and Edd fitted to the Volvo PV544, and which Brewer was seen buying the stuff from Reids Hot Rods in LA (owned by UK ex-pat John Reid)

https://www.vintageair.com/builder-series/

[RicksAlfas]

I'm considering something like this for my Alfa as my original heater is shot:



https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/demon-tweeks-light...

Two vents to the windscreen and two into the footwell. There's no direction control so it would have to be all four at once but I think that would be OK.

[droopsnoot]

shalmaneser said:

It's an expensive option but there are normally some options for retrofitting a/c which does a fine job of demisting, and also makes the car more useable in the summer.

I looked at something like that when I was rebuilding my Sportshatch - not least because I was watching "American Hotrod" at the time and they stuck it in everything - but I didn't do it because I figured that the long periods of inactivity over winter would cause trouble.

[tapkaJohnD]

Because an internal combustion engine has an astonishingly poor thermal efficiency, less than 40% for most, they all need to have enormous and efficient radiators, or else if air cooled even more enormous fans. Unless they are are out in the air flow, like on a motor bike. Yet all manufacturers just throw away the hot air that leaves these rads, and cram tiny, inefficient units inside the car, with bleeds off the cooling system to convey some of that heat inside! No wonder they don't work well!

John

[Mike-tf3n0]

Speak to T7 Design, they have loads of heater stuff and do nothing but one off and bespoke heaters. The VX220 forum approached them regarding a replacement heater as the original in these cars is very poor but also falls apart, literally! Their response was a very nice item that fits into the original space very neatly and works much better than the original!

[harrycovert]

The old patato trick I forgot about that one. Reminds me of my dad and his 103E he also lifted the bonnet and put his Army grearcoat on top of the engine and a paraffine heater under the sump to help starting in the winter mornings.

[Mark A S]

These

[Riley Blue]

Mark A S said:

These

To mop the condensation off the windscreen with? We use the cheaper option, dishcloths.

[Decky_Q]

One of the changes I made to my vx220 was a rover/mg metro matrix and fan coupled with insulated pvc waterpipes to get some actual hot air into the car. Also went around the existing ducting under the dash with sealant as it had huge gaps everywhere so lost all pressure before it got directed anywhere.

That demon tweaks unit looks so similar I think it might be based on the metro unit, so I think it should do the job nicely if you make sure the ducting is up to carrying the warm air to where you want it.

I'd steer clear of electric ceramic type heaters as your alternator, battery or wiring might not be up to the task of running it.