Plus 2 heater

[Matt Elan]

Help! While I'm doing up the plus 2 heater and want to take the whole box to bits. I was wondering what the little push on Spring locking clips that fit to the end of the hinge spindles on the various flaps are called so I can search for them and if anyone can point ne towards a supplier. They push onto the shaft and grip it with four sprung tangs, they are simple prpriatory bits but I can't find them.....

[KevJ+2]

Starlock washers.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Starlock-star ... SwZjJU4PUB

[ericbushby]

I haven`t seen what you mean, but could they be Starlock washers.
Eric in Burnley

[Sea Ranch]

Yeah, Matt, I think they're pretty common. A one-direction push-on washer/nut; just need the right size.

Unfortunately, I don't know the industry term for them. Google push-on fasteners, see what you find. Don't worry, though; you will find something for it . . .

Randy

[Matt Elan]

Push on fasteners here I come.....

[Matt Elan]

Star lock washers they are..... A bit Yoda ish I know but I've just ordered 50 assorted star lock washers in imperial sizes from Amazon - result (I hope)

[Matt Elan]

Thanks Kevin - there seems to be an echo in here here here here.........

[KevJ+2]

Glad you're sorted..sorted..sorted

[Sea Ranch]

Right you are. Google images of star lock washers gets the right result.

Good for you. Ready to go.

[john.p.clegg]

Matt
I've just received a roll of 6mm adhesive backed closed cell foam ,am going to re-line the flaps....

Want some?

John

[gus]

Whatever you do, make sure that the bottom flap is well sealed. When the seal there is dead, you lose most of your defrost since all the air has to travel down and then up again. Make sure whatever you use is long lasting since you have to take all out again to fix it.

I would add a valve to the heater hose, you won't regret it.

[Matt Elan]

Hi john thanks for the offer but I've got a roll on its way
Hi gus thanks for the guidance - much appreciated as this is the first heater box I've renovated and I want my plus 2 to have decent demisting and heating.

[gus]

I never found the plus two heater to be very useful. If you wanted decent performance, a higher output fan might be an avenue for research. Oddly the dash vents never route through the heater core, and I would bet if there was a way to do that heating performance would be improved.

I swapped mine out for a vintage air unit and it is soooooo much better, but is kind of a project on its own

The vintage air defroster vents fit right in the spot of the originals, and I do not know if that is part of the reason for improved defrost performance.

[Matt Elan]

Thanks gus - not too encouraging but too true! At least I with the unit on the bench I can give it a good testing. Onwards and upwards....

[gus]

As it happens, I am doing some work on the HVAC on my newly purchased Exige, and I cannot express how amusing I find it that some 37 years later Lotus has not changed its basic nature. A heating system that looks oh so good in paper is thoroughly defeated by slipshod execution.

I bring this up because as I plan on this being my next long term vehicle[I have owned my +2 for 32 years] and as such am doing things so that I don't have to again[hah] I bought a little 24 dollar air flow meter on Amazon and discovered that much of the airflow problems in this car are lost in the heater box assembly.

Thinking of the +2 it occurs to me that testing it on the bench with such a meter one might be able to discover ways to improve the airflow within the box. For instance using an external valve may make the internal door superfluous, or allow for......something......to change. i think the vintage air defroster vents use a larger hose, maybe that could be retroed to the box and improve that airflow. Or maybe find a way to make the dash vents flow heated air, perhaps impossible, but one can dream

I say this because in my climate the lack of good HVAC diminishes the enjoyment of the car immensely, to where I drive the truck when it is either cold, or hot or.......the vintage air heater unit has kept the car quite comfortable into the mid 20's F and has real blasting defrost.
Eventually I will get the AC working............