Ditching exchangers for headers, now what?

[Flying Toaster]

After I remove the heat exchangers, what is the next step as far as the tubes that run up to the engine bay? I ask as I am not sure of what the purpose of those are? Do they pull heat from the engine or supply fresh air? TIA for suggestions/advice. -John

[Joe Bob]

Well, you block the flow of air coming from the fan, remove any of the heater tubes and block the inlets to the passenger compartment.

[Doug Steinel]

Those tubes send air from the engine fan down throught the HE where it is heated and then sent on into the cockpit when you pull up your heat levers behind the shifter.

[Flying Toaster]

I was planning on blocking the tubes running to the interior. But, if I block off or remove the tubes from the fan, will that cause an increase in engine compartment heat? Would I be better off leaving the upper tubes in place so that the fan can exhaust engine heat out?

Part of my problem is I dont fully understand the importance of the upper tubes.
-John

[Schrup]

I would remove all the hoses & heater motor as well. It will save you some weight. I also chose to remove all my heater controls in my dash as well as my fresh air blower & control boxes.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Flying Toaster
I was planning on blocking the tubes running to the interior. But, if I block off or remove the tubes from the fan, will that cause an increase in engine compartment heat? Would I be better off leaving the upper tubes in place so that the fan can exhaust engine heat out?

Part of my problem is I dont fully understand the importance of the upper tubes.
-John

What fan are you talking about? The engine cooling fan will just blow more air past the cylinders and less to the car (read none). Are you building a race car? When you need a defroster, you're going to be up the creek. And you will need one someday. Even race cars need them once and awhile.

[Flying Toaster]

Originally posted by Zeke
What fan are you talking about?

The engine fan. I will be leaving the front fan assembly in place for now.
Is there a different cover plate available for those not running exchangers? I'm referring to the small triangular shaped covers on either side of the engine fan. If so, what is the proper name for them or better yet, part number? (makes it easier to search for them.)

-John

[Doug Steinel]

They sell block off plates for cars running headers. About $75 for that left side one.

[ischmitz]

Here is a cheaper way to block off the air: Rattlecan caps with hose clamps



The engine fan sucks in air and pushes it downwards over the cylinders and heads to provide cooling. Some of that air is used to go to the heat exchangers and from their to the cabin. Once you block of the ducts you'll increase the airflow and hence the cooling of the engine

You sure want to leave the engine fan in place. Without it there won't be cooling and no alternator.....

Cheers,
Ingo