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It has been suggested that I begin a new thread for the discussion of the installation of a replacement heater unit for our ubiquitous Smiths Heater. I actually completely rebuilt my Smiths Heater for reinstallation into my 60 BT7. However, I came across an advertisement for the contemporary heater assembly being sold by Cape International. Several features appealed to me. First, the assembly has a built in two speed fan, making the Smiths blower redundant for heating purposes and thereby allowing it to be used as a blower for fresh air into the passenger seating area (RH side of car). Second, the unit is set up to use the original slide heater control already in the car. Third, the assembly is compact and actually less obtrusive than the original Smiths unit. Fourth, the original demister hoses and heater water hoses are used.
As Cape sells the assembly, it comes with an aluminum plate screwed to the heater that matches up with the opening in the air box (channel) that our cars use for distribution of air into the interior. Installation is quite easy and straightforward.
I have a Smitty conversion Toyota 5 speed gearbox in my car, therefore, the dash fascia overdrive switch was available to be used as the heater fan speed control switch. I simply installed a new switch mechanism allowing the center position to be "off," top position - "high speed," and lower throw - "low speed."
I enclosed the wiring for power and fan speed in a piece of black heat shrink tubing that resulted in the wiring being virtually invisible against the black backdrop.
On the subject of fresh air for the passenger, I flipped an air control valve upside down and installed it on the front right side of the car, with a cable to the heater control panel on the dash, to control air into the passenger compartment. The Smiths blower is then used to augment fresh air flow. The little "pull" switch on the heater control panel is now used to control whether the Smiths blower is "on" or "off."
I converted to the Cape Heater a couple of years ago. I am very satisfied with the product and would recommend it to others. I am not aware that any of the other commonly used vendors sell such a product, but please correct me if I am mistaken.
I don't know how the Cape Heater would work in a later BJ8, but my first thought is that with the BJ8 dash and console the heater unit would be completely hidden to the observer.
Here are a few images of the installation:
As Cape sells the assembly, it comes with an aluminum plate screwed to the heater that matches up with the opening in the air box (channel) that our cars use for distribution of air into the interior. Installation is quite easy and straightforward.
I have a Smitty conversion Toyota 5 speed gearbox in my car, therefore, the dash fascia overdrive switch was available to be used as the heater fan speed control switch. I simply installed a new switch mechanism allowing the center position to be "off," top position - "high speed," and lower throw - "low speed."
I enclosed the wiring for power and fan speed in a piece of black heat shrink tubing that resulted in the wiring being virtually invisible against the black backdrop.
On the subject of fresh air for the passenger, I flipped an air control valve upside down and installed it on the front right side of the car, with a cable to the heater control panel on the dash, to control air into the passenger compartment. The Smiths blower is then used to augment fresh air flow. The little "pull" switch on the heater control panel is now used to control whether the Smiths blower is "on" or "off."
I converted to the Cape Heater a couple of years ago. I am very satisfied with the product and would recommend it to others. I am not aware that any of the other commonly used vendors sell such a product, but please correct me if I am mistaken.
I don't know how the Cape Heater would work in a later BJ8, but my first thought is that with the BJ8 dash and console the heater unit would be completely hidden to the observer.
Here are a few images of the installation:
