Heater Box Conversion

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by x72COMETx, Mar 23, 2021.

  1. x72COMETx

    x72COMETx Member

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    Has anyone swapped out there at heater box and installed a heat only unit? It looks like all the provisions are there to do so but wanted to see if others had any suggestions or thoughts first

    Thank you
     
  2. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

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    Aftermarket or factory?
     
  3. x72COMETx

    x72COMETx Member

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    Factory, or if there are some aftermarket options my ears are open
     
  4. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

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    Are you removing air conditioning?
     
  5. x72COMETx

    x72COMETx Member

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    It was removed before I got the car
     
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  6. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

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    Your will most likely have to get factory heater box from someone discarding it cuz they may be building for competetion of some sort. At the very least it will require some restoration. From what I have seen, aftermarket unit will require dash mod,s., that probably will most likely require removing dash. Don't know if your interested in that option.
    Cometized a form member had aftermarket in his Comet, but IIRC he had a modified dash. I had my AC box out about 10 years ago, fortunately, it only required minor repair -- no issues since.
     
  7. x72COMETx

    x72COMETx Member

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    Gotcha, I don’t really feel like pulling the dash to modify it :D my ac box is actually in pretty good condition with a minor crack, I was surprised how well the foam still felt after tearing it apart, I do have a complete heat only box from a parts car I had but was not sure if making the swap was feasible or not
     
  8. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    For factory heater, other than maybe a opening or two in firewall, there are no changes to dash. A heater only WILL require the matching control panel & cables. All the A/C vacuum lines under dash can be removed, are not used with std heater..
     
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  9. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

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    If the AC box in good condx., why not fix crack and reinstall? Don't know what's main usage for the car, but, AC feels real good if you do any road trips?
     
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  10. RMiller

    RMiller My name is Rick

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    Oh so true! All those years as a kid, driving around in 90 to 100 degrees with the windows down not giving AC a thought......boy was that dumb!
     
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  11. murphy88

    murphy88 Member

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    Will a factory heater box from a 74 fit in a 73 maverick ? Are the dash trays a little different?
     
  12. CaptainComet

    CaptainComet Large Member

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    If you are staying with an AC-style box, they should fit all years. Even with the change in dash trays, the box is the same. The ducting changed from early to late. I have duct parts for later cars available. Something else changed in the later years, the glove box liner. It was small in non- A/C cars. It got comically tiny in the A/C Mavericks.

    The A/C boxes did change internally and the evaporator needs to match the year of the box. Very different early vs later. I put a later box in mine and was able to use some items from an earlier box for parts along with a gasket kit for a 71-73 Mustang and got the whole mess to work out.

    There are three different styles of center vents for the dash and the two earlier vents are a different size going into the plenum than the late ones. Found that out the hard way. All years of vent fit the cut out in the dash the same, but the back is different.
    Tech article ... http://mmb.maverick.to/resources/center-a-c-vent-changes.167


    Pulling and installing the A/C box can be done without pulling the dash. It is a challenge though. I have compared it to "pulling a molar out of a T Rex dinosaur". Lots of cussing. You can only move an inch in any direction at one time. Definitely take the passenger side kick panel out or you will gouge it. I tried reinstalling the box solo and got really frustrated. Couldn't line it up blind. I got a friend over and with him looking at it from under the hood, we were done in a couple minutes with him steering the bolts, etc. Couldn't believe how easy it became with help.

    The topic on this old thread originally was going from A/C to a non-A/C box. Very different style box, much smaller, and like mentioned above, needs to be matched with the different control panel. What wasn't mentioned is the fresh air vents, one on each side. There is a round flat spot in the cowl pan on the driver. This would need to be cut out and a top hat collar added if you want to add the vent. Then you have vent assemblies with flappers for each side and control knobs for that.

    It would be easier to keep running an A/C style box if that is how the car came. It already has a fresh air system in there, even if not running the air.
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2022
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  13. mojo

    mojo "Everett"- Senior Citizen Supporting Member

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    I agree w/ Cap. Comet; I would repair small crack and stay w/ AC box, less hassle. Also, don't even attempt to install w/o some under-hood help unless you're a glutton for punishment.
     
  14. Craig Selvey

    Craig Selvey Indiana State Rep - MCCI

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    If the 1973 is a dash tray car, then the factory heater box will be different. It has a cowl vent on the passenger end that is open on the dash tray cars, and is routed into the passenger lower dash vent on the glove box cars.
     
  15. murphy88

    murphy88 Member

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    Thanks for all replys..my 73 had factory Ac..l purchased a steel dash non AC heater unit and a lower dash unit that has a glove box door..( my car has a glove box door )..so l will need a control unit and cables that attach to control unit.
     

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