b.weeks Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 (edited) Hi all, Just thought you might be interested to know that you can save 40lbs (18kg) from removal of the heater matrix, AC, fan and all ducting from a Supra :-) Never seen a weight mentioned for this before but thought I'd weigh all the bits after I took it all out (there's a lot of the stuff behind the dash and goes back further than you might think!). Cheers, Ben. Edited September 14, 2008 by b.weeks (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Nice work, does the heater matrix include that bit behind the dash for the aircon? I can live without AC, not sure if I can live with heat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.weeks Posted September 14, 2008 Author Share Posted September 14, 2008 Yeah, it's heating as well. There's a smaller kit you can get from Demon Tweeks I think so I'm going to install that (in the boot) with piping going to front windscreen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Yeah, it's heating as well. There's a smaller kit you can get from Demon Tweeks I think so I'm going to install that (in the boot) with piping going to front windscreen. A smaller heater kit? That would be quite handy, wonder why you can't get a small electric heater type thing for that quick burst of warm air on cold mornings, then you could ditch all pipework. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edd_t Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 A smaller heater kit? That would be quite handy, wonder why you can't get a small electric heater type thing for that quick burst of warm air on cold mornings, then you could ditch all pipework. you can from Halfrauds! works off the fag lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I've heard somewhere before that ditching the matrix on a Supra can lead to premature head gasket failure, though i'm not sure how much truth there is to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I have a 12V cig lighter heater here from ebay, never used it as I have no cig lighter in the car now, give me a shout if anyone wants to make an offer around £10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Nice work matey, I am doing the same to mine this week hopefully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 pics here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.weeks Posted September 14, 2008 Author Share Posted September 14, 2008 (edited) Nice work matey, I am doing the same to mine this week hopefully Be prepared for a fair bit of work. I was hoping to do it with taking the crash bar out (that goes across the dash), and had to cut the thing up with a grinder to get out in peices to do so. I also took the sound proofing out between the firewall and cabin while I was at it. This in preparation for Time Attack next year mate?! Edited September 14, 2008 by b.weeks (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.weeks Posted September 14, 2008 Author Share Posted September 14, 2008 A smaller heater kit? That would be quite handy, wonder why you can't get a small electric heater type thing for that quick burst of warm air on cold mornings, then you could ditch all pipework. As someone else has mentioned you can get those too (from Demon Tweeks as well), although I wanted something a little more permanent in case the window steams up going round the track or something :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.weeks Posted September 14, 2008 Author Share Posted September 14, 2008 I've heard somewhere before that ditching the matrix on a Supra can lead to premature head gasket failure, though i'm not sure how much truth there is to it. The only affect I can think of is that the heater matrix effectively acts as a cooler for the water, and that the water is circulated around. I left the pipe working from the top of the engine leading back to the bottom (i.e. not going through all the heater stuff) in case the flow of the water is important. EDIT: Although I haven't noticed any heat issues since removing it (well, not getting hotter anyway, also had a slight heat issue after a session on track). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I've heard somewhere before that ditching the matrix on a Supra can lead to premature head gasket failure, though i'm not sure how much truth there is to it. See below... The only affect I can think of is that the heater matrix effectively acts as a cooler for the water, and that the water is circulated around. I left the pipe working from the top of the engine leading back to the bottom (i.e. not going through all the heater stuff) in case the flow of the water is important. EDIT: Although I haven't noticed any heat issues since removing it (well, not getting hotter anyway, also had a slight heat issue after a session on track). I've personally always been of the opinion that matrix does offer some resistance to the water path and as such directly bypassing it would result in a change in the water flow and different heat spots. I've completely removed my matrix/heater system and rejoined the pipes but with a slight restriction to emulate the original matrix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.weeks Posted September 14, 2008 Author Share Posted September 14, 2008 See below... I've personally always been of the opinion that matrix does offer some resistance to the water path and as such directly bypassing it would result in a change in the water flow and different heat spots. I've completely removed my matrix/heater system and rejoined the pipes but with a slight restriction to emulate the original matrix. What did you use to offer the restriction out of interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 What did you use to offer the restriction out of interest? I used some copper radiator pipe in a U shape Doesnt look great though, I really should paint it black or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 What did you use to offer the restriction out of interest? I just used a narrow diameter bit of piping, and same as wez then did a loop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 allthough i am very much into weight saving and have now probably got as far as i can get with the purchase of a Greddy titanium exhaust, this would be a step to far for me, if the car is to be used regularly over winter you may struggle, i used to know a guy years ago who rallied a stripped out Lotus Sunbeam and he used to give me a lift now and then to work, it had no heating and he had a crappy electric thing to try to demist the car but it hardly did anything, the car in winter was positively dangerous as you could not see out properly and he used to drive round with the windows down , good effort though if its for time attack i didn't realise there was that much weight in them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Whifbitz sell heated front screens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Anyone heard of a heated front screen for an R33 Skyline?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 What about some filaments like on the rear screen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Whiffin Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 As someone else has mentioned you can get those too (from Demon Tweeks as well), although I wanted something a little more permanent in case the window steams up going round the track or something :-) Thats where a heated front screen comes into its own, I "might" be getting a batch done soon actually, depending on interest of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b.weeks Posted September 15, 2008 Author Share Posted September 15, 2008 Thats where a heated front screen comes into its own, I "might" be getting a batch done soon actually, depending on interest of course. One interested party here (still after heater to keep me warm though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Whiffin Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 One interested party here (still after heater to keep me warm though) I'll find out a bit more and get back ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 I am interested as well, how much are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Does the MOT stipulate the car needs to have a method of de-misting the windscreen? Shouldn't be a problem for folks already on this thread, but I mention it just in case anyone else is thinking of ditching the heater and not replacing it with a different de-misting system. TooQuickToStop: I don't want to wee on your chips, but my experience of the electric cig lighter heaters is not good: I've only used one, but that hardly put out any heat at all, and was noisy. Maybe it was a cheap 'n' nasty one I had though. Anyone else like to comment..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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