Swap in CJ heater?

[Chero77]

Ok, I guess I've got to much time on my hands, but ... I want to get rid of the in-the-engine-compartment FSJ heater in my Chero. (Which doesn't work very well anyway.) Lately, I've thought of swapping in an under-dash CJ heater. I understand that these can be improved by swapping in Chevy Blazer heater motors and supposedly work well when so modified.

Has anyone tried this? Any opinions on how easy/difficult it would be to do this? I've only seen CJ heater boxes in pictures, but it looks like it could be done.

[jeepguzzi]

Your heater doesn't work well?? Maybe it is clogged with leaves and debris. Take the heater box out and take it apart. This is fairly easy. They did upgrade the heaters in 1979, but I don't know what changes they made. My heater works so well that I was able to heat up baby bottles full of formula with it during a trip across the midwest. Temp outside was around 10 degrees. Maybe a change to the 1979 heater box or a new heater core would do the trick. I would think a cj heater would be too small.

[Chero77]

Well, my primary goal is getting the heater out of the engine bay. I have removed evreything except the smog controls, the power steering, and the heater. Ideally, I would like to look in the engine bay and seeing nothing but engine. Thus, the desire to switch to an underdash heater. I am considering either switching to a CJ type heater, a Vintage Air heater, or a homemade unit.

Since you probably actually need power steering on an FSJ mine is still intact. However, I would like to drive an FSJ without power steering though to see if I could dump that too.

I am in CA, so the smog controls have to stay. There is no legal way to get rid of them and none of the illegal approaches seem very attractive. Though, I still toy with the idea of getting a pre '74 title and swapping vin tags.

[scotty]

my heater box was melted when i got my GW. since i was on a budget smile.gif and dont need the ac,i installed the heater core inside the underdash a/c thing. i havent gotten around to it yet,but i was gonna attach some hoses to the defroster vents sos that i could close the a/c vents,and the air would be directed up to the windshield.im pretty happy with it.it works very well and required nothing more than some time and some extra heater hose.

the cj box sounds like a cool idea,but dont really know what one looks like,so cant comment.definately let us know how it works out if you go that route.

on the smog thing: my 85 GW is now a 71 wagoneer. ;) it doesnt make any sense to have to smog check something that i dont hardly even drive on the street .

[ August 01, 2001: Message edited by: scotty ]

[ChrisCollege]

I do not have personal knowledge of the CJ heater system, but everything I have read about them says they are to small to effectively heat a CJ so I doubt they would be very good for a FSJ. If you page through the CJ after market cateloges you always see electric upgrad fans and complete new units to swap into a CJ to try to improve the heating volume.

[jeepbob]

I do have knowlege of CJ heaters and Indeed they do not work very well as you are trying to heat a tent with a candle in the winter. There are several underdash heater systems and if you go to a boneyard with old trucks, even some that are in a metal box that goes under the dash on the pass side. The ones in 54 Fords even kept the cab at 45 degrees on a 20 degree day. The best thing to do is fix what you got as it is a really good heater. If you want some thing besides a plastic box under your hood, get the heater box from an early Wag as they are steel and paint will stick to them.