• Hi Guest!
    If you appreciate British Car Forum and our 25 years of supporting British car enthusiasts with technical and anicdotal information, collected from our thousands of great members, please support us with a low-cost subscription. You can become a supporting member for less than the dues of most car clubs.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

What the HECK???

Share this page

B

Blackjokr

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Decided to paint the heater box. Removed the clips that holds it together, the screws and then disconencted the hoses on the left (pasenger side0..and GROSS! Out came the brownest water I ever saw..I saw the heater core/fins (inside) and its pretty rusty. Any suggestions to make it "new"? Is it possible?? Also, any place I can get the stickers thaat were on it (I think they are warning stickers).best,

Lou aka Blackjokr....
 
I would take it to a radiator shop.

Walter
 
crap/i was afriad youd say that. A new part is $120..cripes!
 
Lou, you can try flushing it with the hose, and then maybe filling it with some vinegar. Let it sit for a day or so, and then run water through it until it's good and clear. Cheap, and will probably clean it up fairly well, as long as there are no major scale deposits in it.
Jeff
 
I agree with Jeff, a good acid flush could not hurt before giving up and buying a new one!!

PS I believe there are "fin combs" out there available with which you could clean up the fins with (or even make a tool!)!!
 
Take it to a radiator shop & have them boil/clean it (like the do a radiator - which it reaylly is)...then, you can get the decals thorugh a Modd dealer or distributor or a VB dealer.

hmmmm, you just made me start thinking: wonder if I could put an MGB heater core in a Midget heater box & increase the flow!
 
Anything is possible with the proper "persuader" Tony! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif

Lou, A quick trip to a rad shop and you'll either have a good clean unit, or know you'll be spending a buck-an-a-quarter for warm toes. If it IS a leaker the rad shop may be able to repair it for less, too. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
cool deal guys...Dr. Entropy: How did you get your head inside that tiny shell? or is it a RALLY big shell??

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
<span style='font-family: Comic Sans MS'><span style="color: #33CC00"><span style='font-size: 14pt'>RUTABEGA!</span>! </span></span> /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
gesuntite!
 
When I bought my midget the DPO had a heater box in it that was from ???? I didn't know about you guys and no way could I afford a new one. I found a midget parked in the back of a local junk yard that had been stripped of nearly everything, but in the trunk was the heater box (full of a rats nest and other yuch. I dug around and actually found the motor, clips, core and the full assembly. It had dirt dobbers grass and other stuff. I did the soak it in vinegar and hot water, flush trick. Painted the box and reassembled. (I figured it could hurt) It works like a new one! Before you just scrap...try the hot water soak and flush trick.
 
What is RUTABEGA???
 
google it.
 
GROSS!!!!!!!!
 
When you've cleaned it out you can test the core by cutting a push bike inner tube, fit one end over each end of the car - tape will do as your not going to put much pressure in. You might be able to do it with some corks instead.

Put the core in the sink or a bucket of water, pump VERY GENTLY with a hand bike tyre pump and look for bubbles.

I say pump gently as bike tyres run at 80psi and cooling systems at 7. A gentle pump will show if it leaks, and it's better to find out at that stage rather than when you've fitted it.
 
Back
Top