Factory heat question.

[demodriver]

Most remove the factory AC and run alternative AC units.  What do you guys do for heat? Are you running the factory heater coils?

What all am I seeing in this pic? Above what I believe is one of the heater cores appears to be alot of 1/8" copper tubing and some other stuff that dont seam to belong.



My wife and I thought if the factory heater box was removed we might be able to vent AC units thru the holes.  Just a idea and not yet thougth out yet.

As always input is welcome!

Thanks, Eric

[thomasinnv]

I removed all the otr a/c including driver a/c, but kept the driver heat. Boy am I glad I did. If you find yourself driving in colder climates you will be thankful for the driver heat still being in tact. These old buses let a lot of air in up front when your motivating down the highway.

[bevans6]

I am keeping both drivers heat and OTR heat.  It just works so well to keep the bus warm while driving, and the driver's heat in particular is required for the factory defrost on the windshields.  I took out the OTR AC, mostly - the evaporator coil is still in under the floor.

Brian

[TomC]

I removed both the A/C and heat system but kept the heater coil which is huge-like 70" x 22".  I had it pressure tested then mounted it in the hallway on the floor with 4 vents just dumping into the hallway.  It is powered with 2-14" electric radiator fans running through its' original solenoid setup with the thermostat right behind the drivers seat (I can control it).  I have a ball valve to turn off the water in summer.  In winter when it runs, when it kicks on, you can count to 10 and feel the heat in the drivers seat all the way from the hallway.  Very powerful.  I also kept the driver's compartment heater/defroster which will keep the bus warm enough down into the 40's-then the big hallway heater will do it's job.  Good Luck, TomC

[luvrbus]

Eric, you can remove the factory heat not a big deal you have 2 line going to the factory defroster and driver heat up front leave that if possible then you can go to salvage yard or Napa and buy you a couple of heater cores tap off the mains line and you can install those where ever you choose with a muffin fan make your own heat exchangers not very hard to do,I had one in the bedroom,bath room, living room and the upfront factory unit and it is cold in Idaho lol 
.Install a cheap thermostats on each to control the temps 

good luck   

[demodriver]

To minimize the chance of leaks I was thinking of using the huge factory coil and making a plentum with some small duct work with a few registers thru out the bus.


Anybody know what the small copper tubing would be going to?  Also is there another heater coil on the road side of the bus or is the ac coil on that side?