Topic: Heater box advice

[CCP]

   Hi guys!
    Installing the heater box on this '66 convertible and need some advice. Should I connect the heater hoses first, and then feed them through the firewall? What about the heater plenum?
  It looks kind of tight to get in there afterwards. Any suggestions?

                                       Thanks, Pete.

[CharlesTurner]

The hoses should definitely go on first.  As for the heater plenum, it's hard to attach properly after the box is in place, so it should go on also.  If you have an original heater plenum, be sure to have someone help navigate the box into place.  Someone to hold the hoses and pull through as the other guides the box in is best.

[CCP]

  Great! Thanks for the advice.

[jwc66k]

Don't cut the hoses to length first. For a V-8, loop the hose thru the two holes in the firewall; clamp the hose ends to the two fittings on the heater core; install the heater box (don't forget to attach the plenum); then route the lower hose to the choke clip/bracket on the carburetor (n/a on HP engines); cut it to fit the water out fitting on the intake manifold and clamp. This is the shorter of the two hoses, so pull it tight before you cut it, you may need the extra length on the upper hose from the heater.
The upper hose runs to the "water in" fitting on the water pump. It's the lower one on the pump, the upper fitting goes to the thermostat housing. It is routed between the RH valve cover and intake manifold. This attachment method forces out trapped air from the heater core. There are some drawings showing this hose routing the other way.
Jim

[Hipo giddyup]

+1 to having someone help pull the hoses through the firewall. A hose can easily get kinked and you will think it is straight when it is not.   Ask me how I know.. 

[CCP]

  Thanks again. The engine is not in the car yet, so there is plenty of room to work.
 One more quick question: should I use good quality hose clamps at the heater core, since you don't really see them? I don't have too much faith in those aftermarket tower clamps.

                       Pete.

[jwc66k]

One more quick question: should I use good quality hose clamps at the heater core, since you don't really see them? I don't have too much faith in those aftermarket tower clamps.

Now that's funny. I like the tower type vs the side screw type as the clamp part of the side screw digs into the hose more. I guess it's just personal preference.
Jim

[CCP]

   Hmmm.., I never considered that. Good point. On the other hand, I have also had some of the cheap reproduction "correct" style clamps break before they actually got tight. What to do. lol 

[Hipo giddyup]

 I have had a repro tower clamp break on me, just be careful... Removing the heater core to replace a bad clamp is not cool.  

[NEFaurora]

"If you have an original heater plenum, be sure to have someone help navigate the box into place."

That's great advice if you have a 2nd person, but I've always done these by myself.  You can do it all yourself if you place some cardboard boxes underneath the Heater Box.

"I have had a repro tower clamp break on me, just be careful... Removing the heater core to replace a bad clamp is not cool."

I've always used the original clamps on each hose, but I've always also backed it up with an extra regular clamp on each hose as well.  It's something that's not ever seen, and using two extra regular hose clamps along with the Original Tower clamps is good insurance. Just keep some slight distance between clamps to allow for expansion of the hose as years go by.

)

Tony K.