Heater Sponge has turned to dust.............

[busheytrader]

So much for rebuilding my heater over the winter. I finally started to dismantle the s/h heater I bought on ebay for next to nothing. I wanted a rebuilt heater box that I could just swap over with the duff one that's been bypassed for years.

It appears to be in good shape. The motor works quietly, the 3 different speeds work (unlike mine) and the heater matrix is holding water. The two metal pipes were badly corroded on the bulkhead side so I just cut them off as they were a pig to remove from the matrix otherwise.

I've ordered the 2 replacement rubber pipe seals and stainless steel pipes from Robsport but need to source some thin sponge to replace the brown dust from all the flaps. The local market stall that sold spongey blocks for furniture has moved on. Has anyone been able to obtain this from somewhere?

The heater matrix holds the pressure from my garden hose with the tap open a 1/4 to 1/2 turn only. I assume this is greater than the operating pressure of the cooling system and means there's no leaks. Am I correct? The local garage couldn't help me with a pressure test on just the matrix.

I finally got to post some pictures. It doesn't help when the ageing camera is incompatible with Vista.

Thanks,


Adam







TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, Green Stuff, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 5 Spokes and Cruise Lights. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991

[nofinchance]

I know that kind of foam you need.It's used in packing too I don't know where to get any though but had one thought if any use.You could go bin diving? There is always an old sofa at the council tip just rip it up and get some foam.Not much help am I.I will keep my eye out for the foam you need.

[tr7inc]

Hi Adam, inside mine was like mush when i cleaned it out, what i used to replace was like an accoustic material, in fact i was so pleased with the result that the spare i had left over i put it onto my spare wheel board, havnt a digi pic to hand to show you but its amazing the uses you find for things.


Steve
1979 Pre Production Prototype Inca Yellow DHC

[FI Spyder]

For the flap foam I used black thin high density foam cut from sheets I bought from craft store. You should be able to fine something similar in UK. For the foam on the down spout I cut to suit from water pipe insulation (used to keep hot water runs insulated and pipes from freezing). Thicker foam you could probably get from auto upholstery place. For the bulkhead foam where the pipes go through the bulkhead I glued some thick vinyl to foam with the vinyl facing the engine bay providing some waterproofing to it.





TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[Underdog]

Mine keeps blowing out of the vents, bit by bit. You would think at some point it would all be gone.

72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[busheytrader]

Thanks for the notes.

The trouble with the older / used spongey stuff is that you never know when it may finally let go, break up and fly out. That nice thin stuff you get with new TV's and the like might be useful if I could get my hands on it. About 3 different thicknesses appear to be on the flaps with another long thin strip wrapped around the outside of the matrix and something else around a metal ring close to the motor.

I remember reading that our heaters were shared with XJ6's so it's a shared problem. Maybe a trimming supplier or upholsterer can help with a few square feet.

Cheers,

Adam

[tom bauer]

go to an auto upholster shop and get some headliner material, most has a thin foam on it. use it upside down, works great!!

[REPLIC8]

Busheytrader,
Try this Ebay link, it's for a portable puzzle board, if you look at the picture you'll see it comes with 2 dark grey sheets of 2mm thick soft foam which is just spot on for replacing the foam on your heater flaps. Each sheet is about 500mm x 400mm. You can then resell the puzzle board minus the foam & get your money back![:)] http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Puzzle-board_W0QQitemZ130297099403QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Toys_Jigsaws_RL?hash=item130297099403&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8

[busheytrader]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the tip. You wouldn't know it from just looking at the ad.

Adam

[REPLIC8]

Adam,
No worries, if you do bid on it don't pay too much, they're only about £20 brand new.

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8

[busheytrader]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by tom bauer</i>

go to an auto upholster shop and get some headliner material, most has a thin foam on it. use it upside down, works great!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Cheers Tom,

I'll give that a try as well.

Adam