Heater upgrade '69 CJ5 (necessary?)

[infernalcolonel]

My heater works, but like many others have experienced from what I've read, it's not very hot and the blower fan sucks. The ty part is that apparently the popular Blazer upgrade isn't an option; apparently mine doesn't hook up that way. For clarification, I have the big heater box in the engine bay and the monster blower fan underneath the steering wheel.

I've been looking at the Flex-A-Lite Mojave heaters and Summit Racing's cheaper equivalent, and they're a little expensive (although I can get Summit's for $135, which isn't bad).

My question is that Summit's apparently puts out 28,000 BTU, which is a LOT. But doesn't this also depend on the temp of my coolant? The guy at Walck's (who was SUPER helpful) thought that upgrading is unnecessary, that I may just need to clean out my heater core and switch to a higher-temperature thermostat for the winter to keep the coolant at a higher temperature.

Any opinions? I really need the heat running strong so I can defrost my windshields during the Maryland winters, and I'm wondering if it's worth switching to the Summit version, or just trying to fix up the stock.

Thanks in advance, as always.

 

[BajaEdition]

jeep heaters suck
that is the bottom line
the Mojave heater has been the heater of choice for upgrades for more years than I can remember
your coolant should be at 170 degrees or higher
what more do you need to know?

 

[infernalcolonel]

Any opinions on spending an assload on the flex-a-lite mojave heater vs. Summit's version for 1/3 the price? And I have no idea how to tell my coolant temp...my gauges are a bit temperamental, and I'm in the process of ordering a new wiring harness to fix some of the issues.

 

[Torxhead]

You could check the existing heater core and hoses for deposits that can clog it. Hopefully you could find a replacement heater motor or get the one you have repaired by an auto electric shop. The thermostat could have been changed to a cooler one or is just shot, the water temp can be checked with a meat thermometer, Just clean it before you put it back in the drawer. Make sure it is operating properly before spending excessive cash and filling up the back of your rig with another heater.

 

[infernalcolonel]

True, although just to clarify, I wasn't planning on a radiant electric heater for the cabin; I was just thinking about replacing the stock heater.

 

[BajaEdition]

look at it this way

you buy the Mojave which is known to work and no one speaks bad of it

of save a ton of money and get the one no one knows anything about



seems to me smart money is on the Mojave, and the spend double trying to save money is on the cheap unit.

but then that is just my opinion, based on experience.

 

[chris insull]

jeep heaters suck
that is the bottom line

Agreed... Pulled mine off in '81 and added a blank-off plate. Still have the entire set-up in a box in the shop.

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

Will a heater box from a late model cj fit under a 69 5's dash? I did put a blazer heater motor in my 82 now have no issues with heat. Might be able to find a later cj at the boneyard and salvage the heater/air box for an upgrade for much cheaper. But I would bet it would be a much less of a PITA to go with that mojave box.

 

[BajaEdition]

post pics of the 82 fab

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

post pics of the 82 fab

For the blazer motor? I can do you better I have a write up on it. I'll see if I can dig it up. You know I love my junkyard conversions.

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f99/my-blazer-heater-blower-motor-upgrade-5150/

There you are

 

[73CJ]

Ditto on checking the heater core. A new one cost me $35 for a 73.

I used to have a bus heater under the drivers seat. Gets mighty cold up here, but it was never an issue with the bus heater. Basically a heater core with a fan, mine had 2, with a box. I've seen many home made bpxes that work super. Put a Y in the heater line. Not high tech.

But it is dependent on the coolant temperature. Whiich should be close to the thermostat. We run 195F up here rather than a 160F.