MGB & GT Forum

First of all, let me say that i do not regret getting rid of my heater. I removed it, plugged the block, and rerouted coolant lines appropriately. Winters here aren't too terrible.

All that being said...i had a VW buddy back in the day who told me that lots of the early Bugs and Ghias' heaters provided heat from the engine compartment rather than using a coolant-based typical heater. I was thinking if this would be possible on a B?

I did a search here, but couldn't find any threads on the matter.

Looking at a cutaway of the heater ducting, i think it would be possible. I'd just have to find an aftermarket fan and construct something to house it on the engine shelf. My main concern is the quality of the air being pumped into the cockpit.

What do you think?

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79 MGB with Weber 32/36
It's yellow and his name is Brian.

Thanks Roger that was my main concern. But wouldn't an air cooled engine be just as susceptible to CO2 poisoning from exhaust etc? Or perhaps because they're rear-engine cars it wasn't a problem?

I've never once used my defrosters in my B...never had that issue. Hardly had to put the top up last winter. I just dress like a biker when i go for a drive.

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79 MGB with Weber 32/36
It's yellow and his name is Brian.

A VW had an air to air heat exchanger ,completely isolated from the cooling air that cooled the air cooled engine. Air that wasn't used for engine cooling was controlled by a funny thermostat that used the excess air warmed it and sent it to the cockpit.
You don't need to reinvent the system since your engine isn't air cooled. Find a small heater core plumb it into the coolant line and tuck it under the dash. Or install a stock heater. If you really don't need much heat the small core will warm you nicely.
I deleted the factory heater and have a vintage air gen2 mini heater mounted below the dash on the passenger side footwell firewall. 3 speeds,servo controlled heater valve,multi direction air flow.

You don't need to go that far and a small Hot Rod underdash heater core is all you need.

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LNDRVR4X4.COM
Home of Project "INCARN8'


1957 Series 1 Land Rover electric VEHICLE CONVERSION

FIXITUPCHAP.COM
FIXITUPCHAP INCORPORATED

RD3 Radar/ Electronic Warfare Technician
VIETNAM 1969-1972

Rob, that's an interesting unit. I haven't heard of them, but did some looking around online.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/vta-506101

Not as expensive as i'd imagine either.

Where did you mount the dash controls for it in your B?

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79 MGB with Weber 32/36
It's yellow and his name is Brian.

An MGC or a MG V8 will provide plenty of cabin warmth.

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1952 MGTD - 1969 MGC - 1972 MGB - 1974&1/2 MGB/GT V8 conversion - 1978 MGB

mowog1@aol.com

Last MG it went under the leading edge of the dash. This one is there now but being moved to the area by the hazard switch.

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LNDRVR4X4.COM
Home of Project "INCARN8'


1957 Series 1 Land Rover electric VEHICLE CONVERSION

FIXITUPCHAP.COM
FIXITUPCHAP INCORPORATED

RD3 Radar/ Electronic Warfare Technician
VIETNAM 1969-1972

Roger asserts that you are 'setting yourself up to KILL YOURSELF AND/OR SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY!' but that is a gross exagerration for the simple fact that there are no exhaust gasses in the engine bay, or at least there shouldn't be if the exhaust system is properly fitted and in good order.

You might get a few engine odours but they will be obnoxious as opposed no noxious so will do you no harm.

It's still a potty idea though and if you want heat then put the heater back in or do as Rob suggests.

VWs and Corvairs had lousy heaters. Leaks anywhere in the system meant lukewarm air. Leaks in the engine bay often meant oil-perfumed air… stinky, but not lethal.

In winter, you could drive a Bug 20 miles and still not have heat. Drivers got used to scraping ice from BOTH sides of the windshield while they drove.

While the MGB has a decent heating system, the hot rod heaters work really well and are pretty compact.

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to paraphrase Mark Twain:

. . . . . "I never learned anything when I was typing! . . . . .

What Mike said. The heater in my '68 VW bug was absolutely pathetic. I spent a lot of time in that car freezing my butt off, and this was in sunny California. I can hardly imagine what it would be like in a state with real winters.

The stock MGB is a perfectly good unit. I don't understand why you would want to go about a bunch of fabrication to make something that likely wouldn't work that well when you could just reinstall the original.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014-10-02 12:26 AM by davester.

The vintage air Gen2 puts out twice the heat,can actually melt ice on the windshield on a winter morning,true zone air control,3 speed fan that can dry wet clothes after leaving the ski lodge. Mount it,plug the harness in,plumb the hot water lines.
Works better. And sure as heck easier to install than the oem set up.
Driving 4 seasons and at times down into the low teens F. makes cold weather driving very pleasant.
Probably overkill in Berkeley

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LNDRVR4X4.COM
Home of Project "INCARN8'


1957 Series 1 Land Rover electric VEHICLE CONVERSION

FIXITUPCHAP.COM
FIXITUPCHAP INCORPORATED

RD3 Radar/ Electronic Warfare Technician
VIETNAM 1969-1972

Come one, guys ; the midget is equipped with two doors, located one at each side of the gearbox tunnel that allow the airflow from engine compartiment to the interior. I do open them on a regular basis since almost ... 20 years during the drive and never suffered from any inconveniences except a delicious odor of oil and grease... Do not think removing of heater could lead to killing anyone into the car...exhaust gas are not present in engine compartiment but in case of exhaust failure !

FYI, the 2 heater doors do NOT open to the engine compartment on a Spridget, they are fed by duct work under the heater box.

Cheers,

Rick