Fitting the Heater

The heater was always an awkward item to fit in the MKIII's and became a bit more awkward in the MKIV's. To make life a bit easier a different approach is called for. The first step is to dismantle the heater - remove the fan, take off the end plates and remove the matrix:

On each of the end plates the mounting flanges were cut off, the plates dressed and then the affected area resprayed:

The empty shell of the heater was then drilled to accept four M6 Rivnuts:It is important to position the lowest Rivnuts no lower than half way down the face and to check the length of bolts to be used. otherwise you may end up puncturing the heater matrix:

The next step was to make a cardboard template of the front of the heater and mark out the Rivnut positions. I then fitted the empty heater box into place (the large holes in the bulkhead for the heater outlets having been cut already by GD) and placed the template over the outlet pipes marking the position of the required holes on masking tape stuck to the bulkhead: Having drilled the holes I re-assembled the heater - you need to fit the elbow piping now - you can't get access to the hose clip later on:The heater was then offered up into position and bolted into place: Note the hole (20mm) and Grommet at the top right of the bulkhead. This is for parts of the wiring loom to run through. I drilled this before fitting the heater for final time.

This shows the heater installation from the wheelarch access panel. At the bottom of this compartment will fit the battery carrier - when I have painted it that is.