Summit heater installation question

[RoKaNo]

I just bought a summit heater and looking through the posts it looks like a lot of folks are splitting the heater with the core on the dash side of the firewall and the blower on the engine side. I am curious why you couldn't install the whole thing on the engine side over the passenger footbox and only run your vent hoses through the firewall in order to free up more room for a glove compartment? Am I missing something

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Thanks
Joe

[cjrpony]

I installed mine split like you described, following what others have done. But what you suggest, I don't see why not either. Actually, I kind of wish I had thought of that, it seems so simple...

[Avalanche325]

If it fits, why not? I didn't want to suck in engine bay air, and wanted a clean firewall. Pleanty of people say they don't get smells. A few say they do. I went the other way and put it all behind the dash and doing a full glove box. Had to fab a custom plenum.

Your way looks a lot easier.

[Tennessee Tim]

That's exactly what I did:



Details here:

February 26, 2012

I also made a "dog house" to cover the heater:





Tim

[Seagull81]

If the unit goes inside the car, be sure to clamp the hoses well and check them often. We had a member that had a hose come off and someone got burned pretty badly.

[AC Bill]

That's pretty impressive Tim!
First time I have seen a plenum box done quite like that.

Where do you draw your fresh air in from? Have you allowed for access, in case your heater core leaks or a hose needs replacing?

[Tennessee Tim]

The outboard top panel is removable, allowing access. The same panel does not go all the way back to the firewall, leaving a space for air to enter.

Tim

[RoKaNo]

Tim that was exactly what I was looking for. Very nicely executed!
Any thoughts on creating an opening in the top of passenger footbox to allow for fresh cockpit air to come back to the heater?
Joe

[Tennessee Tim]

Originally Posted by RoKaNo

Tim that was exactly what I was looking for. Very nicely executed!
Any thoughts on creating an opening in the top of passenger footbox to allow for fresh cockpit air to come back to the heater?
Joe

Yeah, I thought about it. It will be very easy to do if I decide it's necessary. It's plan "B", particularly if I decide to put a top on the car.

Tim

[AC Bill]

Originally Posted by RoKaNo

Tim that was exactly what I was looking for. Very nicely executed!
Any thoughts on creating an opening in the top of passenger footbox to allow for fresh cockpit air to come back to the heater?
Joe

You could also rig up a cable controlled blast gate, mounted to the blower box, and run a fresh air intake hose up to a small scoop, (similar to the foot box cooling set up, on the original Daytona coupes).
With a top on, I can see the need for this fresh air source, rather than drawing in engine bay air. With the open roadster, it's not so crucial. The only time I ever smelled any engine bay fumes, is if sitting at stop light for a few minutes, and the heater blower running on high. Even then, it's not bad.