• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.

    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

stock ventilation in a BJ7 3000 Mk II

twas_brillig

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
We're going to try taking our newly resurrected BJ7 for a drive next week (about a week; about 1000 to 1500 km). I don't have an owner's handbook, but here's how I think the 'ventilation' system works (comments please):
- there's flap on each side, in the horizontal crossmember down by the driver and passenger's ankles that (when closed) forces air up into the defrost vents and (when open) blows it into the footwells
- the fan is a single speed, and turned on by pulling out the knob on the horizontal slide switch
- presumably, moving the slide to the right increases the heat(?); does having it pushed to the left shut-off the hot water to the heater or ????
- presumably pulling out the knob to the left of the slide (this one I can read the labelling and it says cold air or somesuch) somehow bypasses the heater(?) or closes the heater water valve(?)

So - what have I missed? Misinterpreted? And has anyone ever needed more heat at their feet?

Thanks,
Doug
 
twas_brillig said:
We're going to try taking our newly resurrected BJ7 for a drive next week (about a week; about 1000 to 1500 km). I don't have an owner's handbook, but here's how I think the 'ventilation' system works (comments please):
- there's flap on each side, in the horizontal crossmember down by the driver and passenger's ankles that (when closed) forces air up into the defrost vents and (when open) blows it into the footwells:"YEP!!!

- the fan is a single speed, and turned on by pulling out the knob on the horizontal slide switch: "YEP"

- presumably, moving the slide to the right increases the heat(?); does having it pushed to the left shut-off the hot water to the heater or ????:"YEP"

- presumably pulling out the knob to the left of the slide (this one I can read the labelling and it says cold air or somesuch) somehow bypasses the heater(?) or closes the heater water valve(?):
"NOPE" separate duct and flaper valve on the left hand side of the engine compartment.

So - what have I missed? Misinterpreted? And has anyone ever needed more heat at their feet?:"NOPE"

Thanks,
Doug
----------------------------Keoke-- :laugh:
 
And only the driver gets the "cool" air when the cool air is pulled open on a left hand drive car. Adjusting the wind wing on those cars equipped with roll up windows can suck some of the warm air from the foot well when needed (which is almost always). Play with them and you will see it is NOT when you open them all the way.
 
I've never known anyone who needs more heat in the footwells.
 
Hi Doug,

You are correct in all your assumptions, however, I would suggest you turn off the water valve on the right side of the engine to stop any hot water from flowing through the heater. This is done to offset the common failure of the heat control to stop hot water from flowing through the heater core.

Additionally, to further assist in cooling your foot wells, I would suggest you acquire a simple and inexpensive dash fan (powered by a easily installed cigarette lighter of auxiliary plug) and mount it on your tunnel. Be sure to secure the fan to the transmission tunnel in a way that eliminates the possibility of it falling and interfering with the driving function. You should be able to get one on the internet or locally for about $10

All the best,
Ray 64BJ8P1
 
Doug, another way to get cooler air to your feet is to build a duct that sticks out of the vent window. It's always warm in Texas and one of the North Texas AHC folks showed me his answer to sweaty feet. I built one and have been using it for nearly 20 years. Go to any car parts store and buy a piece of expanding hose like was used to duct manifold air to the carb intake on older American cars. These hoses were corrugated and will maintain their shape once bent. Form a duct that sticks through the vent window and directs outside air towards your feet. The vent window will hold it in place.

Good luck on your trip and have fun.
 
Doug/Others,

You may be interested in the hidden way I’ve supercharged the Cold Air Ventilation air stream in my BJ8. Doug, although I would not suggest you implement this so close to the start of your trip, it has improved driving comfort during long trips on hot days. It, however, is not air conditioning. Click on the link

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bx4...C5ZML&hl=en

All the best,

Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
Did a 500 km/300 mile highway run today (turned off the water valve on the block before leaving - thanks Ray - there's a big brass shut-off on our Sprite, but I hadn't realized that there'd be something similar on the big Healey).
Got into a driving rain on the way back home and the windshield starting fogging, so pulled over and got under the hood again and opened the valve up. Also tightened down one of the closing j-hook clamps on the top and that cut down on the air coming in over the windshield (and bringing dampness). Didn't get a heck of a lot of heat (or air) out of the defrosts, but I think the flap was open on the passenger side. And I'm vague on the right hand push/pull knob????? I presume that if I pull it out, I'm supposed to get warm air?
Thanks for the wisdom.
Doug
 
Remember the British like to do things backwards, ie.,
1. Driving on the left side of the road.
2. Positive ground electrical systems instead of negative.

So while logic tells you to pull the right hand heater knob for heat, actually it is the reverse. You push it in for heat.
 
Back
Top