Heat for Heat Exchangerless Cars? Options

[rktmn247]

I am from MN. and when visiting my family one winter, had the heater core in my camaro fail. 55 mph in 20 below weather. Imho there is no way a couple of hair dryers would get the job done. Although, with this global warming I could be wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

You misunderstand. My car will only be taken out once the salt is off the roads in the spring and will be put away by November. But, I would still like to be able to drive it on rainy days and around here, that means defrost.

Roger that. I also do not have heat and think, even here, I might need defog if I were to get caught in the rain; but then I would have to drive the car for that to happen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[Rand]

Forget electric. One that would actually work takes more power than you can supply in a car.

They make little units you can throw on your dash that almost work for a defroster (like this one) but they will make your stock wiring dangerously hot in 15 minutes and don't do much. Making real heat from car electricity is out of the question.

The gas heaters work (Eberspacher, Webasto, etc). If they are installed and maintained properly, they are safe and reliable. There are several threads around here about them, so a search will turn up the info.

If you want a ridiculously simple solution for occasional heat, look into a Coleman golf cart heater. Drop it in a cupholder, or make a simple dash mount that lets you rotate it to aim at you or the windshield. (I know, not an elegant solution. But I am going to headers, rarely need heat, and like to keep my 914 as simple and light as possible, so it works for me.)

(IMG:http://www.coleman.com/coleman/images/products/5036-850_200.jpg)

[racunniff]

Forget electric. One that would actually work takes more power than you can supply in a car.

I'm putting an electric heater in mine:

http://www.canev.com/KitsComp/Components/Heater.html

But I have 1200 pounds of batteries to draw from (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

http://volt914.blogspot.com/2007/07/144v-p...s-charging.html

[alpha434]

Forget electric. One that would actually work takes more power than you can supply in a car.

They make little units you can throw on your dash that almost work for a defroster (like this one) but they will make your stock wiring dangerously hot in 15 minutes and don't do much. Making real heat from car electricity is out of the question.

The gas heaters work (Eberspacher, Webasto, etc). If they are installed and maintained properly, they are safe and reliable. There are several threads around here about them, so a search will turn up the info.

If you want a ridiculously simple solution for occasional heat, look into a Coleman golf cart heater. Drop it in a cupholder, or make a simple dash mount that lets you rotate it to aim at you or the windshield. (I know, not an elegant solution. But I am going to headers, rarely need heat, and like to keep my 914 as simple and light as possible, so it works for me.)

(IMG:http://www.coleman.com/coleman/images/products/5036-850_200.jpg)

Where does the carbon monoxide go?

[IronHillRestorations]

I got a very near NOS Webasto, originally for a 356. I was going to make it work in a 914, still have it, but I won't be doing that proj any time soon.

[boxstr]

How about seat heaters?? CAMP 914 sells them.
CCLINHOTBUNS

[Chuck]

How about seat heaters?? CAMP 914 sells them.
CCLINHOTBUNS

I need to keep the windshield defogged when rainy. I can actually live w/o heat in the car except for that. Just hate to pay $1,000 more for heat exchangers versus headers just for that.

[Rand]

Where does the carbon monoxide go?

Not all heaters produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Here is another one using the same design that is "Designed for indoor use."

The one thing you DO have to pay attention to however is: They consume oxygen. My 914 isn't so air-tight that it's a problem on my short morning commutes. But if you were going on a long drive you should crack a window.

[alpha434]

I was serious... Where does the exhaust go? I might like that device- unless it shouldn't be used in a confined space...

[Bartlett 914]

I was serious... Where does the exhaust go? I might like that device- unless it shouldn't be used in a confined space...

In order to be safe for use inside, it would need a catalytic converter. Another problem is with propane a lot of moisture is generated which won't help defogging of the windshield.

[Zundfolge]

I need to keep the windshield defogged when rainy. I can actually live w/o heat in the car except for that.

Honestly NO heater/defroster is better than a weak one.

My 914 has headers so no heat for me, but I found that I could keep the windows from fogging up on the inside by keeping the window cracked an inch or so ... sure it makes the interior colder, but bundle up and you'll be fine.

As for keeping the windshield defrosted ... there's a long list of reasons not to take the teener out in the ice and snow.

[EyeTrip]

I don't know how much room you have with a 6, but is there any way you could rig up an external oil cooler with a fan and pipe it into the heater ducts?

[VaccaRabite]

If you are just concerned about windshield fogging, and not about actual heat, give any of the anti-fog compounds a try. Rain-X makes one that has been mentioned in the thread. There are several others in the market as well. The stuff has been around for quite a while, I used to use it to keep my paintball mask from fogging (before anti-fog masks became popular, as I said, its been about 15 years).

I'll be appling some sort of anti-fog to my 914 once it become drivable (also no heat), and lots of regular old rain-x on the outside too - the stuff makes a night and day difference if you get caught in a storm, you almost don't need wipers.

Zach

[marks914]

My setup would probably work, it will be available in a few weeks

Mark

Check out my website for mor info
(IMG:http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/19095/2357708820057582025S425x425Q85.jpg)

[VaccaRabite]

My setup would probably work, it will be available in a few weeks

Mark

Check out my website for mor info
(IMG:http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/19095/2357708820057582025S425x425Q85.jpg)

If the car in question is a water-pumper. Which most of our cars are not.

Looks like a slick solution though, if you are. Does it actually scavenge enough heat to work?

Zach

[stephenaki]

No electric heater will work effectively, the alternator cannot supply enough power!
SSI heater boxes along with a functional stock heating system both works effectively and is cost effective with all alternatives I know about.

Funny this topic should come up, just asked the owner of the 914 I just bought whether or not the car had heat or not! Since I will pick it up probably in November and be driving through the Austrian Alps on my way home, heat would be nice!

Anyone know how big of a job it would be to swap out the headers for the SSI set up? I may have to do that before I hit the road after I pick up the car if I find out that there is no heat for the ride.

[Rand]

I was serious... Where does the exhaust go? I might like that device- unless it shouldn't be used in a confined space...

It's catalytic and safe for indoor use. Not enough exhaust / carbon monoxide to worry about. It can be used in a confined space (unless you're planning on sleeping with it in an airtight box). Crack a window if you're inside long enough to worry about it using up your oxygen. My car isn't that air tight. Not an issue.

[tdgray]

Why reinvent the wheel (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Just use the VW gas heater. Very safe if used correctly and IIRC the thing puts out MASSIVE amounts of heat.

[GeorgeRud]

I bought an Eberspacher gasoline fired heater off eBay last year, and was planning to mount it and use it for heating. I fired it up on the bench and it puts out tons of heat.

There were pictures floating around of one mounted in the front trunk of a 914, looked like a factory deal. I never got around to the project, and found a good set of used heat exchangers, so I shelved the project. It should work if someone just tries to follow what the factory did. You can also follow the ideas that Porsche used in the early 911s, as they also had these available as an option.

[Chuck]

I need to keep the windshield defogged when rainy. I can actually live w/o heat in the car except for that.

As for keeping the windshield defrosted ... there's a long list of reasons not to take the teener out in the ice and snow.

Yep, I miswrote when I wrote defroster - meant to write defogger. My car will NOT see ice, snow or salt when it is done!!