Heater Core Alternative - Escort Core into 260/280

[mikev88]

On 7/18/2018 at 7:01 PM, grannyknot said:

I might be borrowing heavily from your design, looks great.  The Four Seasons 74604 I guess is a vacuum unit for the A/C?

Yes, I wanted to replace this stock valve which , according to my analysis is a normally closed valve although my seals were so rotten it wasn't anymore! If your car has no AC I think you don't need it. 

[mikev88]

I was chasing a few vacuum problems,  but everything now seems to work well.  The vacuum valves operates and the heater valve seems to do a good job at stopping flow when closed, air became warm only when i opened it. 

 

Space is no problem,  probably not necessary to trim the core pipe too.

[Captain Obvious]

Looks great! And one of the best parts is now that you've done it, you can get a cheap reliable replacement core if necessary!

10 hours ago, mikev88 said:

probably not necessary to trim the core pipe too.

That was my conclusion as well. Trimming and re-beading the tubes makes the hose routing a little more forgiving, but it's not a requirement.

Not everyone needs to build themselves a bead forming tool.

[JagoBlitz]

Does anybody have a good replacement heater core that fits into a 280z? The recommended part from the Ford Escort is a little too wide.

[HusseinHolland]

On 7/19/2018 at 9:45 PM, mikev88 said:

Yes, I wanted to replace this stock valve which , according to my analysis is a normally closed valve although my seals were so rotten it wasn't anymore! If your car has no AC I think you don't need it. 

Is this new valve in your post the 4 seasons part, or an OEM valve? I'm assuming OEM, since it has the I/O tubes?

My 75 280Z has AC, but looking up under the dash, I don't see the bulkhead valve, only a heater valve. All the lAC lines look 'universal" with the hose clamp fittings, not crimped lines, so mine is perhaps a dealer installed version? Maybe that's why he said the AC never really worked, because there is no positive heat shut off?

This leads to another question - if the dealer kit differs from factory, would that mean the control head also has no vacuum switching? If I add the positive shut off valve, I will need a switched vacuum source to activate it...

[Yarb]

My dealer installed system was all mechanical.

[SteveJ]

@HusseinHolland If you go to my YouTube channel (myZcarlife), I have a short video where I show the features of the stock AC controls/evaporator. If your system doesn't have those features, it's not stock.

[Captain Obvious]

2 hours ago, HusseinHolland said:

This leads to another question - if the dealer kit differs from factory, would that mean the control head also has no vacuum switching? If I add the positive shut off valve, I will need a switched vacuum source to activate it...

Can you snap a couple pics of what you have. Should be pretty easy to tell if it's factory or aftermarket.

[HusseinHolland]

1 hour ago, SteveJ said:

@HusseinHolland If you go to my YouTube channel (myZcarlife), I have a short video where I show the features of the stock AC controls/evaporator. If your system doesn't have those features, it's not stock.

Thank you - I'll check it out. EDIT - I saw a recent one with the control head, is that what you meant? I didn't see a more detailed one scrolling through your video library

1 hour ago, Captain Obvious said:

Can you snap a couple pics of what you have. Should be pretty easy to tell if it's factory or aftermarket.

I'll do that. I tried to take a pic yesterday, but I didn't have sufficient lighting. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by HusseinHolland

[SteveJ]

39 minutes ago, HusseinHolland said:

Thank you - I'll check it out. EDIT - I saw a recent one with the control head, is that what you meant? I didn't see a more detailed one scrolling through your video library

I'll do that. I tried to take a pic yesterday, but I didn't have sufficient lighting. 

It wasn't that long ago that I made the video. I'm pretty sure I talked about the vacuum control and where it went.

[Yarb]

Normally you can tell by the control panel. Factory AC and air cond on the panel. Mine did not.

[HusseinHolland]

On 3/23/2023 at 10:12 AM, Captain Obvious said:

Can you snap a couple pics of what you have. Should be pretty easy to tell if it's factory or aftermarket.

Had time to get a pic up under the dash - looks to me like the stock non-AC setup?