'83 missing heater parts and introduction

[pampadori]

Hello all, my name is Shaun and I recently purchased an 83 targa with numerous issues! I'm addressing them one at a time as I go and so far I've been very pleased with the progress I've made...

• Targa front and rear gaskets replaced
• electrical smoke coming from dash gone (removed non-factory wiring)
• Window seals replaced
• Fuel sender replaced
• Temp gauge wiring repaired
• found 1156 bulb where an 1157 should be (brake, tail, signals all screwy before this)
• Headlight switch replaced
• turn signal stalk replaced
• adjusted clutch so it fully disengages
• mirrors tightened up to stop vibration
• idle speed adjusted

waiting on parts for:
Shift coupler
shift shaft seal
shifter ball cup bushing

Until the coupler ate sh%t i had enjoyed driving the ol' girl around. logged a few hundred miles on it so far!

One of the future projects I want to start planning for now is to get the heat working again. PO removed lots of things it looks like, was gonna be a track car i'm told.
There aren't any tubes hooked up to the heat exchangers and the engine compartment blower is missing along with all the tubes for it.
To be honest, i've tried to browse pics to determine what all is missing but its a bit overwhelming.
So what i'm hoping to learn from people more experienced than I is:
1. should i backdate the heater system? is this a cheaper route?
2. is there a good diagram out there showing how the heat functioned on my car? I must admit i'm confused.
3. Does anyone have some of the parts that I'll need that they'd let go? I figure there are others that converted to track-only cars that might have boxes laying around taking up space...

Thanks in advance for any help on the topic!

(despite all the issues, it sure is pretty to look at from pretty much any angle!)

[Last911]

Nice car!

I voluntarily 'backdated' my heater system. I bought the nice vents off ebay, and with some tweaking and some VW hoses, the system was easy as pie and it looks clean. The heat exchangers need some air passing through them or they turn into big metal heat sinks.

When you change the shifter bushing, make sure you mark the position ON the shift coupler rod. I marked the shifter plate (ooops!).

[Taxi!]

Shaun,

I removed all the heater parts off of my '86 coupe. Not sure about fitment to your Targa, but please PM me if you're interested in any of the parts. Thanks.

Jeff

[pampadori]

Originally Posted by Last911

Nice car!

I voluntarily 'backdated' my heater system. I bought the nice vents off ebay, and with some tweaking and some VW hoses, the system was easy as pie and it looks clean. The heat exchangers need some air passing through them or they turn into big metal heat sinks.

When you change the shifter bushing, make sure you mark the position ON the shift coupler rod. I marked the shifter plate (ooops!).

Thanks for the tip on the coupler. I didn't read that in the how-to until after i removed it though! LOL

Got any pics of your heater system you could share?

[pampadori]

Shifter bushing installed and the car shifts soooo much nicer than before.

So last night I moved on to the next project, GLH exhaust install. I only had a pair of rhino ramps and a little flash light but i got it done. didn't start it up yet because i was also inclined to replace the defective oil pressure sender for the gauge. That sob was seized tighter than anything i've ever seen. Ended up removing the mounting fixture it screws to and taking it back home so i could take my time removing it. So the car still sits this morning with no oil sender so i can't start it.

It looks like the PO gutted the cat and removed the O2 sensor. There is a plug welded to the bung. No sign of wiring either so maybe i'll just continue to run it without the o2 sensor. It runs pretty well as is.

I do need to plug the hole in the GLH if i do this though. Any suggestions? I was thinking just shove a cheap o2 sensor in there for now to cover the hole.

Originally Posted by Taxi!

Shaun,

I removed all the heater parts off of my '86 coupe. Not sure about fitment to your Targa, but please PM me if you're interested in any of the parts. Thanks.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff! I don't know what would be compatible from your 86 to my 83. Let me research and then get back you!