Heater Hoses

[Bill Huntley]

After checking the archives here and elsewhere and making some inquires of my own, I set out to fix my lack of hot air in the cabin. I own a 74 that has been converted to a chevy V6. The original owner did the conversion in the middle 80's and chose to fabricate a "hot air" box that has a heater core in it and uses a squirral cage fan to blow air across it and out a 2" nipple. then down to the 2.5" heater hoses that attach to the connectors that run the hot air up to the front of the car under the rocker panels. I found a few tears in one of the back hoses but decided to do this instead:
I bought 2" aircraft quality hot air hose and threaded it through the rocker, up behind the left speaker grill and attached directly to the air distribution box on the drivers side. The other end goes to the 2" nipple on the heater core box. I've capped off the passenger side altogether. Nobody rides with me to work anyway. I now have great airflow into the cabin with much improved defrost.
I threaded a length of stiff single strand #12 copper wire from the back to the front inside the existing air tube.
With the speaker grill out and the old hose that connected there removed, I plucked the wire with needle nose pliers and pulled it up. Then I attached the wire to the aircraft hose length and threaded the aircraft hose back through the air chamber to the back, pulling on the wire and pushing the hose. It went easy. It doesn't work if you try to put the aircraft hose in the back and pull it forward. The almost 90 degree bend in the front made it catch..The car is now ready for winter.

[Biggy72]

how much did that hose cost? I've seen stuff on the internet for pretty expensive stuff. I've been wondering if laundry dryer hose would work.

[Bill Huntley]

This stuff I bought from Varga Enterprises in Arizona for a little under $5.00 a foot. The archives advised only aircraft quality should be used otherwise awful smells will be yours.