Remove the heaterbox without touching the fender or tub?

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

RE: Remove the heaterbox without touching the fender or tub?

oshawacliff · Poncho Master!

Not this bad I hope

I made it small....... Didnt want to scare you./././../.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I don't think so. But you really wouldn't know until the cowl panel and windshield come out. Which might not happen ever. It looks like they really sealed it up on the last windshield install.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Here's what years of a leaking windshield along with mouse piss does to a heaterbox. Ouch.

Not to worry, got a nice replacement from Cliff. It's a 67 Chevrolet, so some of the brackets will have to move over from the 65 to the 67 box, along with mods to all 3 door levers.

Not sure how Pontiac vs Chevrolet relates to the different configurations. but according to Carl, CP has a few different box part numbers 65-70. Probably the door levers and cable bracketing.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Yeah, that's not worth fixing!

I am betting the basic box is the same though?

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Identical. They must have a million of them 65-70, and even more fan plenums as the Chevelle shared the same one for a few years.

The 67 Box has some surface rust inside. Nothing major. I'm going to try to remove it with electrolysis. I'll post the result.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

So it should be a simple enough basement modification? Any welding required to modify it?

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Yes. I'll zip cut 2 of the old brackets out of the rotten box (the defrost/floor and air door). They are spot welded on. Flip them over and grind them free of the box tin. One bracket (heat door) is bolted on, and the holes are the same between the two. So the old will directly fit onto the new. I'll drill holes in the old brackets and plug weld them to the new box. Easy.

The fussy part will be the lever arms. All 3 will have to be cut off the door flap rods, re-clocked and welded onto the new box. Everything is pretty much opposite in function between the two.

Edit; only one bracket (floor/Defrost) needs to come off the old box onto the new.

-- Edited by cdnpont on Saturday 8th of December 2018 03:38:11 PM

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Was able to remove the firewall side box without opening or removing a fender. It didn't hurt that the 65 is pretty much open between the fender and wheel tub.

Hung a strap at the front and rear of the open hood to support it. Scribed then removed the hinge. Finagled out the 5 little 1/4" bolts for the blower motor. Used a small ratchet with a deep socket on one, a long extension with a swivel on two, a small wrench on one, and a combination of extensions reaching inside and along the fender, all the way from the battery to the inside bolt "C". The reason I removed the blower was it gave better access to that lower hidden box bolt "A".

Pulled the blower out and shoved it up along the inside of the fender.

Was able to get a small 1/4 drive ratchet with a deep 7/16 socket in and under the blower plenum to access that most stubborn bolt. 50 x 3 ratchet clicks at a time and it was out. The final top bolt was easy. Out came the box, then the blower.

In hindsight, the blower cage could have been removed from the motor, and pulled out before the box. (the cage came right off the shaft on the bench).

This outer box is holed as well with rust. I see reproductions are available. Would someone perhaps have a decent one for sale?

I think before I re-install the outer box, I'm going to tack weld 7/16 (head) bolts at A/B, facing in, and 1/4 bolts from behind facing out at C/D.

"A" (the most difficult bolt) could be easily accessed to install a nut on the stud through the firewall blower hole ( before the blower goes in). I felt in through the hole and could feel that bolt protruding, so it can be done. "B" (the stud I drilled off from inside the car) could accessed to install a nut, from the interior side when the main box is installed.

C and D as studs would make it much easier to place orient blower, and get nuts onto those studs.

Anything but remove a fender lol!

Cheers.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I have an outer box from a 70 that's been blasted and painted. Let me take a look at it to see if it's a match.

65Camino · Uber Guru

Is an 65 A body any easier ? I'll have to do the El Caminos in the spring. Although mine has A/C I want to put a block off plate on it

-- Edited by 65Camino on Sunday 9th of December 2018 11:30:14 AM

-- Edited by 65Camino on Sunday 9th of December 2018 12:27:57 PM

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I believe its the same box A or B, 65-70.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Here's one from my garage. It would be from a 70 Canadian Pontiac, and has been blasted & painted with satin black paint. There's a bit of dust inside it. It looks generally the same as yours, but the lower right hole (looking from the front) is different, as well as it has 2 holes up above the fan motor.

Heater Box front.jpg

Heater Box rear.jpg