Steve McCracken Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Have any of you had the idea of putting in a Mark 1 Spitfire's heater. The TR3 heater I have looks like a small ineffective spaceship. Help requested and appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
greasemonkey Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 (edited) Have any of you had the idea of putting in a Mark 1 Spitfire's heater. The TR3 heater I have looks like a small ineffective spaceship. Help requested and appreciated. Steve - are you sure you have the correct heater matrix? The circular TR matrix is identical to that used on a number of British cars of the era - eg Morris Minor, Morgan - except that it is quite deep compared with those. From memory the TR heater is about 7-8" deep. The others are only about half that. Having said that, the blower doesn't do much & the whole thing is pretty useless. BTW - isn't the sun always out in California?? Phil. Edited January 4, 2009 by greasemonkey Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Menno van Rij Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 Steve - I don't think that a Spit mk1 heater will fit. And even more: if I look at the drawing in the Moss catalog, I'm pretty sure the heater motor is the same as in the TR. You can try to have the inside of the matrix cleaned. Be careful though, there's a lot to read about this process on this forum. Has to do with applying an overdose of water pressure! Smiths produced these heaters for many car manufacturers. But, as always, you cannot fit one straight away! And if you find one... be prepared to pay a hefty bill. But there's a way out. I bought a new heater motor from a guy in Sweden; he sells Morris Minor parts. This heater motor fits in right away! And, because it's from a Morris, this motor costs roughly 10% of a TR heater motor -if you can find one. And then there's the posh approach... Revington TR has a nice uprated heater. You can also find this heater at Holden UK for less money! In fact, this uprated heater is even cheaper than an old circular type. Regards, Menno Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 And then there's the posh approach... Revington TR has a nice uprated heater. You can also find this heater at Holden UK for less money! Maybe the Revington kit is more expensive as it includes a TR-specific fitting kit and switch? TR2-3B Improved Heater kit, incorporating Clayton's 4kW heater unit. This heater unit has 2 swivel outlet vents, 2 screen demist outlets and a 2-speed blower motor capable of delivering 200cubic meters/hour (115cfm). In addition to the basic heater unit the kit consists of a mounting cradle, 2 speed switch, 2 water hoses and sufficient air hose to connect both screen demist vents. The screen demist vents are not included in the kit. Fitting instructions are provided to make installation as painless as possible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Horner Posted January 6, 2009 Report Share Posted January 6, 2009 Has anyone fitted the Revington kit? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 For a sidescreen what about one of these? http://www.t7design.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=192 All pipework ducting etc can be sourced to http://www.t7design.co.uk/ The size would fit nicely in place, 3.5 kw should be ample? What do you think? Cheers Guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Clayton do a replacement toroidal matrix that is supposed to be a lot more effective than the original. I suspect they are quite pricey. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rodbr Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Clayton replacement matrix is a bit pricey but fits and works very well and looks close to original. MUCH more efficient than the original. The downside is that there is the same lack of room as before. I have not found a better fan motor yet but on the look out for something better than "grannies dying breath" Smiths motor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Menno van Rij Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Guy, Your internet find really looks interesting! I would investigate further if I were you! BTW, it's pretty cheap compared with the Clayton! Which is about 190 GPB Menno Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 (edited) Menno van Rij 2, on 19 Feb 2013 - 22:47, said: Guy, Your internet find really looks interesting! I would investigate further if I were you! BTW, it's pretty cheap compared with the Clayton! Which is about 190 GPB Menno ------------------------------------------------------------- Thats what i thought, wildo Cheers Guy Edit got one on order however they have a backlog so wont be shipped for a week. Edited February 20, 2013 by Jersey Royal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwifrog Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Clayton replacement matrix is a bit pricey but fits and works very well and looks close to original. MUCH more efficient than the original. The downside is that there is the same lack of room as before. I have not found a better fan motor yet but on the look out for something better than "grannies dying breath" Smiths motor. Rod Maybe there is a burnt out winding on your fan motor ? I have pulled my heater apart and cleaned it and I also spruced up the fan motor at the same time, it now spins with gusto and blows out quite a breeze, only 1 speed though Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billg Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I fitted theRevington style 4kw 2 speed plastic box type in the footwell of myTR3A and it is as warm as you'd every want both for cabin heating and demisting. I also fitted aTX4 taxiheater valve insidethe cabin controlled witha Hillman Imp heatercontrol . Yet to try it with tonneau. Regards Bill G @ NB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
james christie Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I fitted the Revington kit a couple of years ago. Not cheap but it went in without too much hassle - although folding oneself in two to work under the dashboard becomes increasingly difficult with advancing years.I fitted the optional heater tap The only bitch I have is that I was obliged to interchange the choke and rheostat for the 2 speed fan control as the choke cable won't fit twixt heater and dashboard. The performance is excellent almost too good with the soft top which I rarely use and certainly 'extends the driving season' to all year round james Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I have fitted a couple of the heaters that are the same style as the Revington ones (But bought direct from Claytons so much cheaper) and I found if you fitted it as far rearwards as the demist ducts will allow there is more room behind the dash than with an original one. The only drawback is there is no actual fresh air intake to it but the heat output is very good. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR24178 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Took delivery of a Clayton heat exchanger for my Smiths heater today, only ordered it a 3pm yesterday! It is very well made and hopefully will be much more efficient than the original core, Slightly more expensive than a new plastic heater!! John Worthing ps will post a picture later Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MCOOPER53 Posted February 22, 2013 Report Share Posted February 22, 2013 Steve, With the original heater it's worth spending a little time to give them a good clean as they are not as bad as some people imagine. I spent an evening on the one out of my 3A, which was half full of crud, to good effect. Martin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR24178 Posted February 23, 2013 Report Share Posted February 23, 2013 I had to have a new heat exchanger because mine was frost damaged, it had exploded (almost) and blew the clips off!! and although it still held water I do not trust it, I had to put in the vice to get it back to the original size!! John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR24178 Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 (edited) Picture as promised, hope my feet get warm!! Edited February 26, 2013 by TR24178 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwifrog Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Very nice bit of kit, you should have snugly tootsies with that Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------- Thats what i thought, wildo Cheers Guy Edit got one on order however they have a backlog so wont be shipped for a week. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heater arrived yesterday, heres a few photos. I was surprised at the size difference, and there is no weight to it either. I fitted to ally strips to the underside, last picture. and this is bolted at 90 degrees to the existing two dash supports, so its all flush underneath. Its wired to the original type rheostat and allows me to adjust the speed of the fan. I have yet to connect the last pipe connections to the bulkhead, and see how much heat is produced claimed to be 3.5 kw. However i have tested the fan and even with footwell vents open and pumping out air, there is an extremely good flow of air up the windscreen. So far brilliant. Cheers Guy Edited March 8, 2013 by Jersey Royal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ntc Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Good stuff Guy keep us posted Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Menno van Rij Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 That looks to be a very useful upgrade! Menno Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Royal Posted March 22, 2013 Report Share Posted March 22, 2013 (edited) Update on T7 Design heater Just been out in the Tr3a, following tuning with colourtune , top down (no top fitted as yet) no sidescreens on. And i have to say its well worth the money, my footwells were toasty warm, i could imagine with a tonneau it would be very very nice.. On the unit you cant turn off the windscreen demist, but the footwell have adjustable vents. The unit fitted easily too, only thing i find it difficult to adjust the rheostat knob with the standard steering wheel. As i type my jeans are still warm Cheers Guy Edited March 22, 2013 by Jersey Royal Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted December 29, 2016 Report Share Posted December 29, 2016 Bringing this thread back to life as it's the only one that seems to come up in a search for "T7 Design". We've talked about their heaters more recently, but those don't come up in a simple search. Here's another heater core/matrix thread with a lot of good information, including the T7 Design 3.5 kW lightweight heater: http://www.tr-register.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/58340-replacing-heater-matrix/ I'm normally a fan of originality, for the fun of a period classic and because all the old diagrams and mechanical instructions are still relevant. But I'm very likely to compromise when a heater goes back in my car. The T7 Design seems to be just about perfect for a sidescreen car. The fan in the YouTube video in Guy's post #10 seems noisy. In fact, it seems to roar. Can those of you living with one of these comment on that? Stuart was recommending the four outlet version rather than the two outlet/two vent louver version. Is that still the group's best thinking? (One can take Stuart to the bank, so I'm betting that it is.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rhino_mac Posted December 29, 2016 Report Share Posted December 29, 2016 Hi Don, The picture Stuart posted up in the other thread is of my car when he was restoring it. The fan on my heater is certainly audible at full chat but is nothing compared to the engine/exhaust noise. With the roof off, you can't really hear it - I struggle when driving to fathom out how fast is is going by listening to it as the Rheostat doesn't have any indications on it (other than fast, slow stop!). With the roof on, you can just about hear it at full pelt but the engine noise is amplified by the roof and drowns it out. I didn't hear the original Smiths heater before it was changed (it was broken) but I've never thought "bloody hell, that fan's noisy" so it can't be too bad. By the way, during a drive out with Ben yesterday we decided you should be known as "The BFG" from now on! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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