Heater box delete
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Joined: Mar 2023
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Heater box delete
Hello again, I'm wanting to remove - delete the heater box and core permanently and install a plate cover. I'm looking to see if anyone knows of a video of this process? Or even a step by step written guide.
TIA
TIA
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Interesting, I just disconnected the hoses and left it at that. The old core can come along for the ride. It can't weigh that much I should do back flips to remove it. And who knows, maybe one day after I'm long gone someone will want to hook up the heat again.
Bottom line is sounds like a lot of work for little weight reduction.
and if removing the entire box, how will your Air-con function?
Don't tell me you live where you don't need heat, but also don't need Air-con in the hottest car ever made!
Bottom line is sounds like a lot of work for little weight reduction.
and if removing the entire box, how will your Air-con function?
Don't tell me you live where you don't need heat, but also don't need Air-con in the hottest car ever made!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,229
Likes: 7,825
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Sounds good. Ugly? OK. Can't see my heater core. I have seen a number of people remove the entire evaporator/heater core box when doing a vintage air upgrade. Perhaps if you search the installation of a vintage air system you will find the step by step removal of the stock box your looking for. And that kit also uses some sort of block off plate.
best of luck to you.
best of luck to you.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
On my new engine build, I have also decided to get rid of the entire heat system. Its useless to me and serves no purpose in the car. I plugged it all off years ago, and afters years and thousands of miles of driving, I have not missed it, and never needed heat or the defroster. And I drive my car far more than the average C3 Corvette owner. And I live in Western Pennsylvania.
SO.... I just bought a delete plate off Ebay, and will be removing all the plumbing, heater core, and controls. Search on Ebay and your will find it. Its a flat piece of aluminum in proper shape to cover the opening in the firewall. Unfortunately it was designed for and AC car, and I had to modifiy it slightly for my NON AC car.....but it was an easy mod....cutting off the bottom and drilling some new holes. I could not find a cover plate designed for non AC cars......although another easy choice would buy a piece of 1/8 inch think aluminum, tracing the heater box onto the plate,....cutting it out and drilling the holes.
As for the need for airconditioning.........it gets hot enough in Western PA in heat of summer, and I can drive it ALL DAY LONG with the T-tops off, windows down, which is part of the full experience of a Corvette. My car does not produce any excess cabin heat from the engine bay. It just doesn't.
SO.... I just bought a delete plate off Ebay, and will be removing all the plumbing, heater core, and controls. Search on Ebay and your will find it. Its a flat piece of aluminum in proper shape to cover the opening in the firewall. Unfortunately it was designed for and AC car, and I had to modifiy it slightly for my NON AC car.....but it was an easy mod....cutting off the bottom and drilling some new holes. I could not find a cover plate designed for non AC cars......although another easy choice would buy a piece of 1/8 inch think aluminum, tracing the heater box onto the plate,....cutting it out and drilling the holes.
As for the need for airconditioning.........it gets hot enough in Western PA in heat of summer, and I can drive it ALL DAY LONG with the T-tops off, windows down, which is part of the full experience of a Corvette. My car does not produce any excess cabin heat from the engine bay. It just doesn't.
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Joined: Mar 2023
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Yes I've got the plate covered. My fabricator will plasma cut one for me. Polished and clear coated aluminum.
It's the tearing out of the heater box and AC charge botle info I'm looking for. But you just gave me an idea. I have pictures of the cover plate with matching fastener holes. By looking at it I can determine where to look for fasteners and how many. Thanks
It's the tearing out of the heater box and AC charge botle info I'm looking for. But you just gave me an idea. I have pictures of the cover plate with matching fastener holes. By looking at it I can determine where to look for fasteners and how many. Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Here, There and Everywhere
I first made a poster board template...
Next, I cut 6 layers of fiberglass mat to match the shape and laid up the composite part and sanded it down to smooth it out. I also bonded in 4 mounting studs and used the 2 original studs on the car for mounting.
I then bonded it to the firewall and tightened all the studs to pull it tight to the firewall. I'm guessing the removal shaved about 15-20 pounds.I also shaved and smoothed the rest of the firewall and filled any factory holes that I would not be reusing. Hope this helps!
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Drifting
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From: Here, There and Everywhere
I'm working on a 71 BB car that was stored in a garage on a small farm. The car was literally filled with mice and the heater box was home to a small family of rodents. Taking the heater box out really wasn't all that difficult and I'm guessing less than a hour. I already had the front clip removed from the car so access was a bit better. Still, a piece of cake!
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Got it done today. What a unit, inside and out. No it wasn't to hard. I did have to split in 2 to get it out. With everything in place, it wasn't coming out in one piece. What difference in gaining room and de clutter. I'm so glad I did it.