locating/planning a defroster vent without the body
I'm on the fence about putting in a defroster vent, I have heat & A/C and there's room on the driver side for a vent, but probably not the passenger side without creating a whole new vent and space is at a super premium...
is there a guideline on how much 'hose' should be used to locate the vent? I know in general you want the hose as taught as possible to reduce airflow disturbances
has anyone done just a driver side defroster? I know it's a roadster, but my buddy the other night used his defroster because the dewpoint got low enough to fog up his inner windshield and it helped tremendously
also, if a soft (or hard) top goes on in the future, it would probably be beneficial as well
Almost every one I've done has a functional defrost vent on the driver's side only and a non-functional grill on the passenger side. The heater box &/or glove box usually makes it virtually impossible to get a hose on a boot on the passenger side.
Jeff, is the heater box in the way for a functional passenger side defrost vent with the FFR heater installed per the instructions? If so, what do you do with the top passenger side box output? I’m about to pull the trigger on the FFR heater/defrost kit this week as other kits don’t have the box outputs on the side which is all we have room for, right?
Toadster, glad you started the thread.
BUDFIVE
Complete kit order 8/28/2023
347 Ford Dyno 10/12/2023
Kit Delivery 11/28/2023
North Racecars sells a plenum to solve this issue https://northracecars.com/heat_ac.html. Scroll down the page on the link.
I made my own adapter to allow defrost on the passenger side.
HTH
Norm
Mk4 base kit 7721, 331 Stroker, Holley Sniper EFI, Wipers, Heater, Whitby Soft Top, Drop trunk mod and more
Jeff, is the heater box in the way for a functional passenger side defrost vent with the FFR heater installed per the instructions? If so, what do you do with the top passenger side box output? I’m about to pull the trigger on the FFR heater/defrost kit this week as other kits don’t have the box outputs on the side which is all we have room for, right?
I installed the heater but did not put in the defrost vents. I cut off two outputs and then formed a block off plate out of AL and riveted into place with sealer to the openings.
2nd MK4 #10639 received 3-19-23. Wife's version. Street Snake - IRS, Willwoods, no roll bars, no hood scoop, no stripes, Blue Print EFI 306 with AOD trans, and under car exhaust. Ford Eruption Green with saddle leather interior.
1st build - Mk4 Roadster #9319, received 4-10-18. IL registration 8/6/19. Moser 8.8. 3 Link. Wilwood brakes. Blue Print 427, Holley 750, TKO 600, 0.64 OD. Paint Dec 2020. Ruby Red with Carbon Flash Black metallic stripes.
Jeff, is the heater box in the way for a functional passenger side defrost vent with the FFR heater installed per the instructions? If so, what do you do with the top passenger side box output? I’m about to pull the trigger on the FFR heater/defrost kit this week as other kits don’t have the box outputs on the side which is all we have room for, right?
I think a lot depends on exactly how and where the heater box is mounted as well as what defroster boot you're using. The ones that point straight down are generally a no-go. I had a North Racecars plenum supplied by one owner and due to conflict I had to cut it up, reshape it and and then 'glass it all back together before fiberglassing it to the underside of the cowl. I use rubber Fernco test plugs to cap the unused heater box ports. You'll find them in the plumbing section of your local hardware store, Lowes, etc.