Tweet
FIRST- i haven't physically done this BUT, judging by the size of the A/C evaporator box and the size of a Festiva heater core, after you remove the evaporator core the heater core should fit in the evap box even if you have to slant the core a little. you might even have to blank off around the heater core if it's a little smaller than the evaporator box to get all the air to flow through it. THINGS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT: you will probably have to drill holes through the firewall but it's also possible that the existing hole for the refrigerant lines (whether you have A/C or not it is there already) might be able to be used or enlarged. you will have to run RETURN and SUPPLY heater hoses through it and TAP into the existing heater hoses with TEES and SHUT OFF VALVES. THIS MOD WILL ONLY WORK ON CARS WITHOUT A/C or IF YOU ARE WILLING TO DISABLE YOUR EXISTING A/C. if your car does NOT have A/C you will have to grab a few easy to remove components from one that does and you'll also need to get the heater core from you donor. feel free to suggest any improvements to this mod or even just tell me i'm full of it if you don't think it will work. to begin with, read the description of operation below and refer to the diagram of AIRFLOW in the VENT mode. they key points these inserts make is that when the MODE SELECTOR LEVER is all the way to the left, all the air comes from the OUTSIDE (or RECIRCULATED from the INSIDE), goes through the EVAPORATOR PLENUM BOX and out the 4 DASH VENTS only. this would be the MAX COOL setting if the TEMP LEVER is also all the way to the left. but what if instead of an evaporator core in there you have a HEATER CORE in it. DASH VENT HEAT! you will still use the existing heater core as usual for FLOOR heat and DEF. NOTE: in any MODE other than FACE, you'll be passing some HEATED air from the evap box heater core through your EXISTING heater core. this shouldn't be a problem. you might even get a little hotter air at the feet and defrost. it might be found to be possible to eliminate the stock heater core altogether but as i said, i haven't physically cobbled this yet. and a last NOTE. you'll have to shut the valves in the heater hoses that feed the EVAP BOX HEATER CORE in the summer. obviously this won't be for everybody, especially if you have a working A/C system but given the little time and cost it might be worth it for those driving through hard long winters. what makes it pretty easy is that the A/C components that are marked with the BLUE arrows on the parts sheet are all the A/C parts you need plus another heater core and those pieces will directly replace hose #18A586 (boxed in RED) found in the non-A/C cars. then just reattach the RECIRC/OUTSIDE air flapper (#01935) to the newly mounted evap/htr. core box. (red arrow) and if i remember correctly, NO dash disassembly should be needed.
Comment