Dax heater

[kdavies3]

I fitted the Dax supplied heater, under the passenger footwell, it has three speeds but the switch only allows two so I just used the two fastest.

I find it blows fine, I piped it so it blows on the screen and the footwells at the same time, I'm sure if you only used two outlets for the screen and none in the footwells the screen would blow really well.

I also piped up the heater without fitting a control valve which means that water flows through all the time, as there is no ram effect with the Dax installation no heat comes from the vents unlless the fan is running. So if you don't want heat, switch off the fan. :thumb:

This also has the advantage of supplementing the cooling capacity of the main radiator, which in the summer is useful, especially in Le Mans at 30 degrees.

[mikey]

Originally Posted by simon finlay

Mikey, could I be the first in line for an option on the heater? But first can you answer some questions for me, First why you selling, is it in good working order and condition and most import does it actually give you a good blast of hot air, I have a VW Polo one in mine and I really want something that blasts out the hot air> Dave you must have fitted loads of Dax ones, are they any good? , cheers, Simon

You are the first. The unit is actually the Europa spares one that was identicle to the Dax unit. You can see it on the web page

https://secure.visav.co.uk/avshop/pr...=&sscat=&sword=

AN03584A - Exept the unit is 2 speed and it has 4 outlet positions instead of the flaps. Ive noticed the unit with 4 outlet instead of the flaps is £241 now - they certainly know how to charge.

Why.

I had it in my last Dax for about 12 months and took it out to reduce weight (pre SVA) and I found that Rain-Ex did a marvelous job of keeping the screen clear. I had a Polo heater in before that which I had modified and I would say that they were both on a par (the Polo heater had plastic outlet and I broke it tying to pull the hose off) which is why I got this unit.

To be honest if SVA wasn't there I would be saying to you dont bother, as the ammount of heat they all give out in reality is pretty naf, even the new Dax units. Air flow to the screen is OK but tahts about it. If you could fit a BMW or similar unit I am sure there would be a big difference, but there is obviously no room.

Its absolutely fine as its hardly been used, so if anybody is interested its just sitting in my loft at present along with a Performer RPM cam (thought that was naf too), a Chevy Alternator and a few other things.

All the best
Mike

[keane]

Kev, would there be a problem with piping the spitfire heater as you have done your setup? mines a Big Block Ford, it makes sense to supplement the cooling and the less gubbings the better. Dave

[kdavies3]

I don't see why not Dave. :thumb:

[wilf]

Dave - no need for a water control valve IMHO - if you dont feed "ram" air into the unit, then just turning the fan off gives zero (or close as) hot air output.

I modified mine to give two stub outlets at the top to feed the windscreen, and made up a linkage to open/close the "gates" that let air out of the bottom vents (into the footwells) or not as the case may be. For SVA I taped these outlets up completely to force all available air to the screen for demist.

Truth is, heat output is naff, I get one hot part of my shin, the rest is so much (not so) hot air.

If you want a toasty warm cockpit in winter, fit a big block. Only trouble is, you will know how a convicted witch might have felt in summer!

[keane]

Thanks for the replies guys. good on yah!!! Dave

[dingocooke]

As the spitfire heater is installed with the inlet and outlet pipes at the bottom, (see pic from previous post) can anyone tell me if its self bleeding, or is there a technique to ensure the heater has no airlocks?
Cheers
Steve

[keane]

Steve, I have just made some brackets up to get the heater near to the underside of the body, I have turned it upside down and the brackets hook over the scuttle tube, tilted back slightly I can then feed the pipes through the bulkhead, it had better work like that!! Dave

[neil still building it]

hi guys
i've watched this thread for some time now in the safe knoweledge someones sure to step in and point out the obvious.....well maybe not.........:
so here's my two 'penneth....
you really must find the cheapest ,biggest matrixed, fan assembley you can after all its output in B.T.U you're after .to give you some idea ...the one i picked was out ,was from a citroen cx25 estate (*the big monster with a turbo diesel) true it was what came along but estates are gonna have big heaters beacause of the volume of space they are expected to heat ....same with commercials(lorries,vans) so look for the biggest rad,/
( just remember they need to be clear :
NOT GUNKED UP WITH RAD WELD-I HATE THAT STUFF!)
/(matrix) you can,it may pay to ask your local motor factors eg german and swedish or eurocar parts etc. they'll know what sizes are too if you're lucky to ask the right person. next don't be too concerned with the box its all fitted in-were gonna junk that!! so you now have a humungous matrix and centrifugal fan(hopefully rather than a conventional fan)as these will push harder in a confined space, the fan can in all reality come from any car as long as it works!! just remember to grab all the speed controlling trickery if available :but 'nil desperandum' if it wasn't available -just run it at max. speed....next if you're stuck for space work out what will fit in the space you have availalble..**.if you have to you can always remotely fit the fan and trunk air to it....just be sure to use a funnel type of affair if you need to change shape or size of trunking.or expect the fan to lose efficiency.you can make the box to house the matrix out of anything to hand really be it cardboard for the 'mock up'(or should that be muck up!!) to plastic gallon bottles for the final version..?
true i've not finished /started mine but thesse jobs are only really limited by your own imagination .**the fan in my '77 vette is actually in the engine bay as std....so perhaps if you have room you can go through the passengers footwell-'indeed the first minis had a remote fan mounted in the engine bay....just remember to get the air from out of the 'engine room' perhaps thats what those side vents were meant for in you front wings.....!
'if you have sidepipes you could just waft the heat from these through direct !!''----only kidding!!
we don't want you getting gased from exhaust leaks do we!!
sorry i don't hgave photos to show but like i say you'll need to use your imagination and see what fit your own cars...!
off to make 'another' start again ....so many distractions........!
good luck
NEIL:thumb:

[Cobra289]

Perhaps this help some one with the same problem as me (SPACE)

I use now a PC heater (cooler) as radiator, this kind of radiator core is used at the PC world to cool down the processor when they tweak it to the max.

Is it slink and it tested to have more than 20 bar.
I use one that is 320 x 145 x 42 mm at the edges.
I made a box with some aluminum to distribute the hot air via some PVC pipes an flexible hoses.

The location is behind the dash board and it is enough room to get access to the instruments.

The tunnel has been modified with a box that goes a bit inside the engine compartment but not much.
You need to check if you engine has been relocated to the rear to be able to remove the gearbox to get access for the clutch, but that was not a problem.
Just check, my engine was relocated by 80 mm.

I use two powerful FAN’s 120 mm, also from the PC world, just the noisy ones but it gives a lot of CFM, and we don’t care about the noise, the engine will over take that level.

All of this with pictures you can see at my site.

Need to say that it works?!!!! Yes it works better than the old unit (1986) from DAX.

Here is the link.
http://www.donostia.demon.nl/index_files/gallery05.htm

Best regards,
Cobra289