Sumo Heater

Hi,
Has anyone fitted any other heater apart from a Mini one?

There must be something more modern out there which will fit, the holes certainly big enough!



Rgds
Adrian

[Kevin W]

Adrian,
I'm planing to copy Mark Ash's modified design. - he bolted a motor on the front of the mini unit so that you can control air flow via a dash moutned switch. Much betetr solution, and SVA firendly compared to the hideous Mini slider knob.

see www.mark-ash.co.uk

Its worth remembering that you can get a perfectly useable Mini heater for about 10-15 quid from your local scrappy, compared to over 100 for a new unit (Mini or any other type). I have ehard of people using the sierra unit, but then you;ll need to move the battery. Others have tried the VW Polo unit which is quite small and compact.

I can tell you frome xperience that every time you mod something on a sumo you tend to build up another set of jobs to take care of the knock-on effects of the the little mod that you thought was a good idea!

Kevin

Kevin,
I must admit I had seen this before and was very impressed but its the just the thought of putting an old Mini heater that's been laying around the scrappies for some years!



Adrian

[Norman Cook]

I have "Engineered" a Sierra heater matrix into a Sumo and fitted the Blower where the battery is supposed to go (mine is in the boot where it should last a bit longer). I have just (this weekend) fitted an Escort heater control panel (three [SVA compliant] rotary knobs) to the instrument inset panel (which I have "adjusted" to make it even). It all seems to work although you do have to be a bit creative when it comes to the adaptive engineering of the donor parts. After all it's a kit car and should reflect your needs and not a kit of "Lego bricks" that always builds the same thing.

At the end of the build I hope to have a car that not only looks the part but can also be used on a cold day without having to wear too much Artic survival clothing.

Best regards,

Norman (no not that one) Cook

Norman,
Any chance of posting a couple of pics to show how youve' done it please.



Adrian

[Norman Cook]

Hi Adrian,

Give me a couple of days (?week?) as I'm walnut veneering a dashboard inset (don't really like the wonky fibre glass one from "Small Dole Enterprises").

It's also going to be a nice weekend (weather wise) so I will have to dig garden and allotments. I have also kept the templates I used to fashion a mount for the modified matrix housing under the bulkhead. I'll post these details as well if you like.

Best regards,

Norman

Norman,
OK I'll look forward to seeing those.

Cheers
Adrian

[gareth08]

Hi Adrian
I got hold of an all electric heater(no pipe work) from a german company.havent actually fitted it yet but its a little smaller than the mini one cant see any problems.will dig out address if required as ive had it a little while now.
Gareth

Any chance of a pic?


Cheers
Adrian

[Norman Cook]

Hi Adrian,

Took the photos yesterday. As I took delivery of the shiny bits yesterday I haven't had time to suck them out of the camera - Hopefully tonight.

Norman