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69 Cj5 Heater System

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Biggyniner, Jul 17, 2017.

  1. Jul 17, 2017
    Biggyniner

    Biggyniner Member

    Portland Metro...
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    Hi all,

    I need pics of the heater system for a 69 CJ5. This all started with me needing to replace the heater core, and the one I have does not really look like the one in parts catalogs... I don't think I have a defrost tube and mine is literally a box on the heater core with a fan attached to it. (the box has some vents cut out on it.)

    Any pics of how the original setup is supposed to be, or an easy aftermarket solution would be much appreciated. I did find some threads on this topic but the picture links were broken.

    Thanks!
     
    Hellion likes this.
  2. Jul 17, 2017
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
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    I have a 69 and could get some pictures this evening, but if you are not adamant about being all original, you might consider one of the aftermarket units from Summit Racing. $150, very compact and new. I have one, but have not installed it yet.

    https://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-991102-1

    Edit: This is what you should have for the inside portion of the heater (up under the dash). One of the round fittings on the top of the plenum goes to the defrost duct...it is all vacuum controlled...

     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2017
  3. Sep 23, 2017
    Wyo Willys

    Wyo Willys New Member

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    This is what mine looks like and I am looking for a core as well.
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Sep 23, 2017
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    I have one in a box, the guy who helped me to repair my Jeep 5 years ago lost the buttons to make it work.
    But I consider that this heater is not very interesting, too complex, you have to connect on the water circuit.

    In my opinion it is better to find something electric.

    If you want a heater, it means that you have a hard-top, (I guess) otherwise the air is moving too fast to get some warm.
    I have a hard-top, and in winter the heat of the engine is enough to have some warm.

    With a canvas top it is not fully hermetic - or maybe a good one- and the cold wind comes in.

    I drove a Willys (army model with canvas top) at Halloween period, crossing France from south to center.
    I stayed 15 days in bed with high fever and heavy bronchitis.:shock:

    So, good luck!:mad:
     
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  5. Sep 23, 2017
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Just FYI, the pre-72 original heater is not very effective. Often called the "placebo heater." The aftermarket heaters are much more effective. There are a lot of old posts here about heater upgrades, if you search. site:earlycj5.com heater upgrade - Bing

    A comment about Alan's suggestion - I contend the only practical way to heat the cabin is with coolant water. Producing enough BTUs with an electric heater would require more current than an automobile alternator is capable of delivering. A 100A alternator at 12V produces about 4000 BTU per hour, and the Summit heater is rated at 28,000 BTUs (no rate given - supposedly BTUs is BTUs/hour in heater specs)... you can see that the rate of heat production from coolant water is something like an order of magnitude (10x) higher than you could reasonably make with electricity.

    Plus, you don't have to do any extra work to use the coolant water heat - it's waste heat that would be shed to the air via the engine radiator anyway. You'd have to burn extra fuel to make that (inadequate) 100 amps of electricity.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2017
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  6. Sep 23, 2017
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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  7. Sep 24, 2017
    Karl Childers

    Karl Childers Member

    Taos New Mexico
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    Interesting thread! I really like what I'm reading about the Summit heater, I think I may be installing one in the future.
     
  8. Sep 24, 2017
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

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    Yes, the engine makes heat and hot water. And I don't even need more to have good temperature in the cabin.
    About electric heater, in fact I don't know, there are probably some for camping cars.

    What is sure is that my system seems not very effective and there are for sure some other solutions using hot water to get some warm inside.
     
  9. Sep 25, 2017
    VAPepsiGuy

    VAPepsiGuy 1969 CJ5

    Draper, VA
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    I've run a water heated aftermarket in sub-zero temps with no issues heat the box in my '69 CJ with dauntless. used the summit heater that i put on my own diverters to control air flow. one outlet to the floor and one to defrost.
     
  10. Sep 25, 2017
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Not to change your mind about rebuilding your Old heater , but the Problem is :

    The original stock heater attempts to heat cold air from and intake in the grill.................modern heaters Re-heat previously heated Cab air........until you solve that forget any real change regardless of increasing the fan speed.

    The Problem with the Summit heater is the lack of ability to channel air to where you need it............The base unit will produce more than adequate heat........You just need to get creative in getting it to the defrost port in the windshield...........and the driver and passengers body.

    A basic Summit heater with added Plenum to get the heat where it's needed , Tight fit Yes! :

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  11. Sep 25, 2017
    mike starck

    mike starck Member

    salem,oregon
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    little different duct for defrost. my cj5 used the two flex tubes to the windshield duct. The heater does work well. 15104d1376136990-early-cj-5-heater-dsc00433.jpg
     
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  12. Sep 25, 2017
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

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    Between the heat from the headers and the original heater, keeps me warm :)
     
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  13. Sep 26, 2017
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    Actually, the upgraded fan makes a significant improvement in the stock heater. The other important consideration is engine temp. If I get the engine running 190-200 degrees the heater output is noticeably hotter than at, say 180
     
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  14. Sep 26, 2017
    Hellion

    Hellion Regurgitated

    Eastern TN
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    I've read a few threads here and am bound to read-up on the links provided by timgr and colojeepguy (thanks), but I just have to know:

    Can the aftermarket heaters like the Summit be utilized with the stock heater controller (like in Beach Bum's pic) in any way, shape or form?

    It is kind of difficult to understand the totality of the stock heater and all that it entails under there. I'm with the OP in that regard. (y)
    Good topic.
     
  15. Sep 26, 2017
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
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    The original controls pictured are mostly vacuum switches that control air direction in the plenum. It would work if you adapt the original plenum to the Summit heater and mount the Summit fan knob in place of the original.

    One concern might be the original plenum restricting the heater output.
     
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  16. Sep 26, 2017
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

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    All good info.........but if it's cold outside when you will be using the heater most.........trying to get anything up to operating temperature is hard without restricting the air flow to the radiator........cold air in equals cold air out regardless of the speed it travels...........much better to reheat already heated air inside.
     
  17. Sep 26, 2017
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    I totally agree with what you're saying, I just wanted to relate my real world experience with improving the stock heater. I actually do block off 1/2 the radiator in the cold months to get the engine temp up...for some reason I've never been able to get a 195 tstat to work in my Jeep, and with the engine temp at 180 the hot air from the heater is significant cooler than at 195.
     
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  18. Sep 26, 2017
    SoCalNickG

    SoCalNickG Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Whittier, CA.
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    I've been following this thread and I wanted to ask about a valve on my 71 heater plumbing. I bought a 71 CJ5 earlier this year and it has a ball valve plumbed into one of the hoses for the heater. This Jeep came with 4 snow chains and I understand it was used in California's mountains, in winter. I had assumed this valve was to allow the engine to heat up quicker. I am interested in thoughts about why this valve is there. I don't want to hijack a thread but I got to wondering how this valve could affect the heater. The valve is closed now because I closed it, it was open when I bought the jeep.[​IMG]
     
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  19. Sep 26, 2017
    mike starck

    mike starck Member

    salem,oregon
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    It is a heat control valve .Our early cj's did not come with a means of stopping coolant flow thru heater core.So yes it is a add on and mostly useful in the summer to limit heat to cab. Mid 60's Ford pickups used a cable operated valve that is easily adapted to other applications.Vintage Air has a electric control valve that works well.
     
  20. Sep 26, 2017
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    FSM
    heater FSM.jpg
    I've got use to way it is . sometimes during a really cold winter . I too would block some of radiator . but that's the nature of the beast
     
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