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Heater box painting

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TR674

TR674

Jedi Warrior
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A quick question. I removed my TR6 heater box to service (fan ceased). It has it's original powdercoat finish, in poor condition. Would a new powdercoating be worth doing, or just paint, in epoxy or enamel?
Regards
Craig
 
Hi Craig,
I really doubt that the original coating was powder coat, just black paint. I could be wrong. I just refinished my heater by stipping all the paint off the box panels (I used my friend's media blast machine, you could use paint stripper)and just resprayed with Krylon paint. Powder coating would make a tougher finish and more resistant to rust. This is something you don't want to do twice as removing the heater for me (without removing the dash) was like standing on your head and stacking BB's. Make sure all your guts of the heater are either new or like new. I replaced everything inside with new (found a NOS fan blade on Ebay) except the resistor strip which regulates the 2-speed. Yup, you guessed it. The darn thing failed the next day. Who would think that something that simple would fail.


Bill
 
Isn't there any way of getting around that resistor and making the fan run at whatever (variable) speeds? The switch is a two position switch and the resistor controls the speeds. If it's a 12V motor, why couldn't it just be bypassed?

Pardon my electrical ignorance, I'm just curious, since this seems to be an issue and these resistors are no longer readily available. Or maybe there is a similar resistor in an aftermarket (non-Triumph) application available?
 
If I were you and could have it done easily, I would definitely go with the powder coating, even if you're never going to see it again.

I had many of my under hood brackets and the frame cross support coated and the finish is far superior to anything that you can produce with paint.
 
Mine is powder coated and looks beautiful albeit covered in dust on a stool next to the car. One of these days I am going to get back on that squirrel cage fan project. While you have it out and apart upgrade the wires to 16 guage. It is interesting the different color wires that are on that rheo. in the same year car.
don
 
I just bypassed the defective resistor strip and went for "wide open" speed. Like that matters. The low speed was so low that it was ineffective.


Bill
 
What "squirrel cage" project is that?

Bill, my low speed is usually adequate in roasting me out of the car. It actually works really well and the high speed sounds like a 4077 MASH chopper coming in. Well, not that bad, but you do know it's on high, even without feeling the heat.

I had my blower motor (bearing was frozen up) and wiring replaced last fall during one of my Gunst clutch episodes. I did the heater hoses inside the car as well. My case was rather pristine, so I left it alone, or it would have gone to the powder coater with the frame parts.

I have a complete spare box with a good working motor and resistor that I'm considering rebuilding over the winter. I'll send the core to a local radiator shop for a recore and will powder coat the case at that time. Providing that is, I ever get really ambitious and need a diversion.
 
Am trying to change the fan blade to a cage unit. Use to be an option in the UK at one time but is NLA.
don
 
Anything domestically available that could be retrofitted?
 
Dunno. The squirrel cage option seemed promising but not available. TRF is supposedly working on new Bakelite fan blades but have not as yet come up with them. I was lucky to find a NOS fan blade on the web and installed it on my new motor (from TRF). Actually cracked the darn thing installing it on the new motor shaft. Luckily was able to superglue and JBWeld it onto the shaft. Now stronger than new, but not ever removeable (not that any Bakelite fan would be anyway.)


Bill
 
I have a hardware store by me with about 50 different size of cages. When I saw them I made a mental not to bring the top of the heater back and check out sizes. Haven't made it back yet
don
 
Hi,

I had my TR4 heater box nicely powdercoated, and agree that the original was likely just paint, possibly baked on enamel at most.

One consideration: To powdercoat it you'll have to completely disassemble the box. Might have to fiddle with some clearance issues a bit during reassembly, too, since the PC will add a bit of thickness.

Sad to say, after all that work restoring the TR4's heater box to like-new appearance and function, it's carefully packed away in storage. I've decided at least for the time being to not reinstall it. Instead, the heater pipe connections on the head and water pump housing are being used to increase coolant flow to the rear of the engine.
Of course, here in Calif. we're a bit spoiled and A/C is generally more desirable than heat! (Well, I suppose the heater's help defogging the windscreen would be nice, on some rainy day.)

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
As you know I don't hsve a six but we have this thing called a rheostat which regulates the fan speed in the TR3. Just a type of dial switch that increases fan speed as it is turned. You can wire it in line from your 12v supply to the fan just make sure you get one of the correct amperage and wire it correctly to size. Also if you melt your wiring to your fan or dash it wasn't (isn't) my fault.

Harry
CT
 
Thanks all. I'll get it powdercoated. It has been serviced at some point as it has a new radiator and the fan blade is new (plastic). Alan, like you we have warm weather all year and I have not used the heater in 10 years, but I tried to use it the other day after heavy rain caused the windscreen to fog up. Fan just stopped. The spindle was rusted to the front motor bushing. Fixed now. Should be back in on the weekend.
Regards
Craig
 
Thanks for the tip Harry! Also, thanks for the vote of confidence on the wiring. You must have seen some of my past electrical work.

Now I've got to dig up a rheostat with the proper shaft to fit the TR6 fan switch knob and I'm in business for the winter when I take the dash apart to cleanup the gages.
 
You have a heater box AND a fan??

COOL!! Lucky guy.

My TR has neither.
I wish I had a fan and hoses

but
all have been gutted by the PO.
 
The odds of you needing it in PR are much less than me needing it in RI.

Actually, I got lucky and got it for less than $50 on ebay. I came to me in very good condition and will not take a lot of work to make it really nice.

I guess that the fan would be nice as well as a bit of heat for defogging on rainy days.
 
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