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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - heater install

installing a heater in my 71 mg midget. The heater attaches in front of the battery but it seems to have a half inch gap from the area it attaches to. I don't see any part for this. It looks like it takes a seal of some kind. Anyone have any experience with this?

Ken Bargeron

Yep there should be a seal. Try some stuff from the DIY department to exclude draught. That did the trick for me.
Bas Timmermans

Use 1/2" weather strip double stick foam tape...home depot, or lowels.

prop
Prop

Yup, what Prop said. You didn't mention it, but if you haven't disassembled the heater box, cleaned it, flushed the internal radiator core, checked it for leaks, and added new sealing around the core, now is the time to do so. Also vacuum out the air plenum. Once remounted, make sure the box is water tight where it sits on the shelf in front of the battery - you don't want any water splashed up into the engine compartment to get into the air plenum.

I restored mine about a year and a half or so ago. Pics here:

http://www.spritespot.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=Glens-72-Midget&page=1

Cheers,

Glen
G. D. Phillips

Oh - so there's supposed to be a seal there?
What's the effect of a missing seal in that area?
Rick Bastedo

I've got a 78 Midget and I could see the plenum hole from both sides under the heater unit.
I really didn't know how this works on the Midget so I didn't understand why I didn't have much air from my defrosters.
This morning I read this thread and it clicked, so I went out and stuffed some foam rubber in there to block off both sides.
Now I have air coming from the defroster vents!
It's a bit of a pain putting something in there on the drivers side while the heater is attached, but this was just "proof of concept".
Rick Bastedo

I see you answered your question yourself:-)

Not only the air will enter the cockpit but bad fumes will stay in the engine bay too. So no more headaches while driving the car:-)
Bas Timmermans

Thanks for the replies, one other question. I don't have the heater cable from the dash switch to the Heater box. Don't see a part number for it in the Moss parts. Is it just any cable?

Thanks

Oh btw I uploaded a couple of pics just for fun :-)


Ken Bargeron

another pic of the engine


Ken Bargeron

Ken the heater cable opens and closes the air inlet flap on a push-pull movement, and also has a rotary electric switch when in the flap open position (knob pushed in) which operates the fan. I think they haven't been made for many years so you need to hunt around for a good secondhand one. They usually fetch quite good money on ebay.
David Smith

This thread was discussed between 15/11/2008 and 18/11/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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