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BN2 heater hoses

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mbrooks

mbrooks

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I investigated the heater hose hook up today prior to opening up the water flow round the heater for the first time. I noticed a few things I could do with some help on.

1. The heater valve that comes off the middle of the block on the right hand side has the take off pointing forward instead of back. It has been connected to the heater inlet with a piece of 5/8ths hose [which incidentally is chafing on the steel wire on the oil filler]. Since the valve does not have any kind of union on it to enable it to be pointed in a chosen direction, why does it point the wrong way?

2. The other connection to the heater which should be via a hose/copper pipe along by the manifold/hose has the copper pipe missing and has been connected with a long length of 5/8th hose all the way. The proper short hoses are listed as unobtainable. If I get the proper copper pipe, will 5/8th hose, which fits the heater stubs and the valve ends fine, be the correct ID for the copper pipe?

Thanks in advance

Mike
 
Hi Mike,
You can use a Napa # 9801 1/2" elbow hose from the back of the copper pipe to the heater. A short length of straight hose at the front. You will need to shorten the Napa hose a bit. Actually, 1/2" hose fits much better than 5/8".

To get the heater valve pointed toward the rear, reduce it's gasket thickness as required to get it pointing toward the back. It is usually a hard fiber gasket on which you can work down the thickness with a flat file.
D
 
Thanks Dave.

I've now ordered the copper pipe and I'll get the Napa bits on Monday.

BTW the good news was that with the existing lash up at least the heater core held up. I was half expecting it to leak and to have to replace it.

Mike
 
Mike,
Note that I changed the hose size to 1/2".
My heater had been disconnected for I don't know how long & was completely plugged by leaf cutter bees. Full garden hose flow opened up the core, but it then had a leak inside. I pulled the heater, stripped it, & had the local radiator shop repair it. Good as new now. BTW, the heater is mounted with three bolts. Two of them are removed from inside the car, but the lower bolt is under a rubber plug on the firewall, behind the engine & accessed from the firewall side. Don't drop this nut inside the hole, it will be lost forever. I hope you don't have to remove the heater.
D
 
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