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Old 12-19-2020, 01:46 AM
Jack Gifford's Avatar
Jack Gifford Jack Gifford is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Phelps, NY 14532
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Default Heater not heating

Air from the heater in my 'Bandit' Suburban (ex-Wangers w/455HO) is barely warm. I'm sure I'll eventually find the problem. But in the meantime I'm wondering why coolant is taken from the rear of a head. Wouldn't there be more heat available if taken from the front crossover area?

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Old 12-19-2020, 09:23 AM
mgarblik mgarblik is offline
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Hi Jack. Couple of things you can look at on that vehicle. Because of the age of it now, the hard plastic small vacuum lines running in and out of the passenger compartment/engine compartment crack and break. If you had heat in the past and now not so much, a broken/split line is likely the issue. I would start by making sure the engine is getting up to temperature. If it is, then go to the heater control valve. They are vacuum operated and can get stuck when old or no vacuum is getting to the valve diaphragm. GM used both normally open and normally closed versions over the years. What I do is get the engine up to temp and pull the vacuum line off the valve. Now see if it gets hot in the cab. If it DOES NOT, then attach a hand vacuum pump to the valve and pull a vacuum on it. If it gets hot now, the problem is a lack of vacuum to the valve. Have to find the broken plastic line. If still no heat, the control valve may be mechanically stuck. Hope this helps. You NEED heat where you live!

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Old 12-20-2020, 02:24 AM
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Jack Gifford Jack Gifford is offline
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Thanks Mike. I need all the help I can get on a vehicle this new...

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Anybody else on this planet campaign a M/T hemi Pontiac for eleven seasons?
... or has built a record breaking DOHC hemi four cylinder Pontiac?
... or has driven a couple laps of Nuerburgring with Tri-Power Pontiac power?(back in 1967)
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Old 12-20-2020, 10:15 AM
78w72 78w72 is offline
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what year is it? most older GM cars/trucks didnt use vacuum to control the heat flapper door, its controlled by a cable that opens or closes the door to control the amount of heat sent from the heater core. the hard plastic vac lines are for the a/c controls to direct the air to different vents. its a good idea to check its function but if mechanical the cable probably isnt an issue.

i live in the cold upper midwest & the biggest thing that limited heat temp output was a clogged heater core or stuck open T-stat that didnt let the engine get to full temp. if you dont have a dash temp gauge you can check the heater lines with a temp gun or verify the temp at the t-stat housing or rad tank etc. if everything is operating right & engine is getting to temp (180-195) it doesnt matter if heat is taken at the front or rear of the engine, its all plenty hot to generate heat in the car.

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Old 12-20-2020, 10:40 AM
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Sirrotica Sirrotica is online now
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Quote:
On the ex-Wangers 'Bandit', there's a relay near the top of the driver's side of the firewall, which looks much like the old Ford starter relays. I can't tell whether it's OEM or a modification. Anybody know if an '83 Chev Suburban had such a thing?
Quote from Jack about another question he had about his 455 HO Pontiac powered Suburban, formerly owned and used as a tow vehicle by Jim Wangers.

Here is an image of Jim Wangers, and Dave Anderson posing in front of aforementioned vehicle:



It's an 83 square body 3/4 ton Suburban.

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