Turn Down the Heat!!!

[VLG 73]

Wondering if shutting off the flow of fluid through the heater core will help lower the temperature in my '73. Suspect there might be something wrong with the heater control valve, as it seems like there is always hot air blowing on my feet. Need to figure out what A/C parts the car is missing and have that fixed . . . soon!!

Have heard some other Vette owners talk about having some sort of valve in the engine compartment that they turn off in the summer -- apparently this switch diverts the fluid so it doesn't go into the heater core and add more heat to an already warm cockpit. I'm sure some of you must have done this. Would like to know what kind of valve I need and how to install it.

Also, is there any way to make the vent door on the passenger side stay open and pull some (hopefully) cooler outside air into the car?

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I have put together a page that kind of summarizes what I have done in my quest for cool air.

The valve is easy. I got mine at Ace Hardware. Put it in the line that is going into the heater core.

The vent you are talking about is open all the time except when you have the system in max a/c. Then it closes and recirculates the cabin air. The fresh air may or may not be cooler, it depends on whether or not you have air leaks into the system introducing heated engine air.

 

[Pepe Le Pew]

Very interesting Bob. Well done!


Kenny

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Thanks Kenny.

 

[Mike Carter]

Bob,

Good helpful stuff, printed out and in the binder, thanks.

Mike

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Keep going back. As I do the fan conversion, probably next winter, I'll post pics and more detailed instructions.

 

[VLG 73]

Thanks for the info. It looks as though I'll be spending some quality time crawling under the dash and in the engine compartment . . .

 

[Michel73]

VLG73 - I have a quick fix for you if time is a problem.

I had the same problem with my 73 roadster. So I installed a heater hose from the water pump to the intake which bypassed the heater core. Now I get much cooler non heated air. We need all the help we can get here in Hotter - N - Hell Texas!


Michel

 

[rsmlap]

On my 80, the vacuum hose had come off the control block under the dash. Since I still have not been able to get two hands up there to re-connect it, I manually closed the vent door. Just like that, no more hot air. Also have installed insullation under the carpet. That helped a bit also, but the vent door was 90% of the hot air source. Got all the great tips from Bob's page. A great page!!

 

[LIRacer]

VGL73 ...can you give us more information about that bypass please?

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Instructions are posted on my web site referenced above for doing this.