Heater options other than stock

[jekquistk5]

Pretty sure I'm not going to put heat in my k5. Its a summer play toy, but having the option of defrosting(fogging) on the cool summer mornings sounds like a good idea. Has anyone used a small electric heater to do this? Just trying to weigh my options before I throw the heater core in the trash.

 

[diesel4me]

Most of those cheap heater/defrosters you plug in the lighter socket suck--350 watts isn't enough to melt more than a peep hole in one spot right in front of it really..

I doubt you could find any 12V heaters with enough BTU's to be effective as the stock heater,nor would you be able to run it with a stock alternator...you could get a large 110V inverter and use a 1500W home electric heater,like one with a ceramic element,but it'll put a strain on your electrical system and battery..

I have seen some guys who race cars on ice covered lakes up here use a strip of home baseboard heating across the dash to keep the windshields defrosted..basically its just a length of copper tubing with fins made onto it...plumbed into the engine's heater hoses,they will throw a good amount of heat..(no blower though,unless you rig one up)..

 

[datmony]

I know a ton of folks in the jeep crowd that over the years have ripped out the stock heater only over time to have their usage patterns change and then be sourcing a new heater system. I personally would leave it and just not use it until you have those morning needs. In a few years you mind find you want it for something.....

 

[diesel4me]

There are some "under the seat" heaters that plumb into the heater hoses and can be rigged with defroster hoses,but in the long run,keeping it stock would be cheaper and probably "better"..

 

[jekquistk5]

Anyone have any links on how to modify the stock ac box. I can't fit the ac box with coilovers.

 

[Truckman4life]

Red Dot does lots of heater options, not sure on price. Napa has a little square box looking one with a heater core and blower and then you just wire up the blower switch and hook up heater hoses. You would have to come up with some kind of ducting but shouldn't be too hard.

 

[dyeager535]

If I wasnt planning on having ac, I'd rip it out and replace with the non-ac heater setup instead of modifying. It's basically a flat piece of sheetmetal attached to the firewall to "fix" the hole left when the ac box is used then installing the non-ac box.

 

[blazinzuk]

Mojave or summit heater.

 

[skunked]

Mojave or summit heater.

I'll be running the summit heater too

 

[Justin V]

Anyone have any links on how to modify the stock ac box. I can't fit the ac box with coilovers.

There is a a/c delete box you can buy,

http://www.acdelete.com/pages/73-90_Truck.htm

 

[jekquistk5]

There is a a/c delete box you can buy,

http://www.acdelete.com/pages/73-90_Truck.htm

For that price I will buy the summit heater.

 

[CK10]

There are lots of non-ac trucks in the junkyards here, but depending on your climate they might not be as common where you are. I'd imagine you could buy the entire setup for less than $50 and have a heat/defrost setup designed to work with the truck pretty cheap

 

[skunked]

There are lots of non-ac trucks in the junkyards here, but depending on your climate they might not be as common where you are. I'd imagine you could buy the entire setup for less than $50 and have a heat/defrost setup designed to work with the truck pretty cheap

firewalls are different......

I went through all of these different scenarios a few months back and decided it was best to patch the firewall (I have an AC cab) and run a summit heater.

 

[jekquistk5]

Ditching all the weight, and room that a stock unit takes up seems like a good idea. Especially since it will be getting a cage through the dash and firewall.

 

[riflerk20]

firewalls are different......

I went through all of these different scenarios a few months back and decided it was best to patch the firewall (I have an AC cab) and run a summit heater.

would you mind posting some pics of where you mounted it and how you ran the new ducting ?

 

[skunked]

would you mind posting some pics of where you mounted it and how you ran the new ducting ?

I'm not that far along yet. Firewall is patched and I have the heater but I'm not planning on mounting the heater until the cab is back on the chassis.