Old 90/110 Air Con Evap MUC1663

[manic]

Just stumbled across part number MUC1663
described as a heater evaporator assembly.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/542.jpg

It appears to mount on the bulkhead perhaps in the usual heater box position (pre puma defenders).

Is anyone familiar with one of these, know what year 90/110's it was found in and how it was set up - did it interface with another unit under dash or just blow into cab same way as heater box (BTR4318) ?

[rick130]

AFAIK that was never fitted to an Oz spec 90/110/130, it was the standard factory fitted a/c evap assembly.
We enjoyed an Aussie designed/fitted a/c system.

Yes, it sits where the normal heater box sits.

[steveG]

That looks a lot like the original County aircon unit. A monstrous unit that's "big enough to have its own postcode", and that most people have removed.

Steve

[manic]

That looks a lot like the original County aircon unit. A monstrous unit that's "big enough to have its own postcode", and that most people have removed.

Steve

I'd love to see what it looks like installed!

I'm looking to fit an external evaporator to the bulkhead to blow through the port the current heater box uses. So it looks promising to me. I wouldn't mind a monster under the bonnet so long as its not in the cab... but why was it such a bother that people removed it? And what would they have replaced it with?

[rover-56]

Thats the pre 1988 County heater/aircon unit. UK spec. Was plagued with poor assembly and air leaks, but can be made to work ok with a bit of careful assembly. (pig of a job though)

Terry

[manic]

Thats the pre 1988 County heater/aircon unit. UK spec. Was plagued with poor assembly and air leaks, but can be made to work ok with a bit of careful assembly. (pig of a job though)

Terry

Do you know how the hot/cold mix worked? On the microcat there are parts that suggest some sort of vacuum control. The defender heater box uses a cable operated flap to divert the outside air around the heater matrix for cold. Does this box divert air through the evap around the heater core or was coolant from the engine shut off to the heater core when on cold?

[goingbush]

would this be one ?
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/527.jpg

pic found in this thread
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/79265-clarkies-county-auto-conversion.html

I dont like how the vent flaps are sealed with black plastic covers, At least Pumas still look like they have vents even if they dont open





.

[rover-56]

Thats it Don.

The hot/cold mix worked by a cable attached to a lever part way down the side of the box. When the lever was at the cold end of its travel it operated a plastic vacuum valve which was supposed to close a vacuum operated water valve. The vacuum also operated demist/face level/foot level flaps controlled by vacuum push buttons in the dash panel.

I doubt anyone could design a more frustrating and difficult to fix system.

The aircon could be made to work, but air flow was badly restricted by the poorly set up ducting, and the loss of vacuum when the engine stopped would open the water valve and fill the heater matrix with hot water.

The whole thing would get me screaming and throwing things around the workshop.

The Aus Defender setup believe it or not is better. (not by much I am told:D)

Cheers, Terry

[dick180641]

dead right, Steve. My 1985 County 110 'had' one in, virtually useless and MOST difficult to work on. I have removed all the cooling bits, just use the heater matrix for demisting, but the blower fan would'nt ruffle your hair anyway. I'm trying to devise an "evaporative cooling" system for out in the 'dry' bush.

[rick130]

Looking in my manual it looks like the Poms used a remarkably similar/same system through '98 too, including the vacuum operated water valve.

[Blknight.aus]

yep county heater setup...

typically if the owner didn't specifically want it in place and I was working on the vehicle I would ask if It mattered if it came out in one piece and could I replace it with the heater setup from a series III.

if they let me pull it it was removed with great urgency, often unreasonable violence and not one jot of care towards "but what if they want it back later".

[manic]

wow great picture - what a beast indeed! Thanks for all the great info, you guys know it all!

Even with the warnings about it being a PITA, I'm wondering if I could make use of just the housing and cores. Was the main issue, the size of it impeding repairs in the engine bay? Or was it the overall set up with vacuum controls and such?

Also you say it could'nt blow to ruffle your hair but was it any worse than the defender bulkhead heater box? My current one blew pretty crap when I first got it but now does alright after an overhaul of all the seals etc.

Perhaps I could overhaul one of these beat boxes (if i can find one) so the box is sealed tight, the fan motor uprated or 'overvolted'. Put in my own bypass valve for the heater matrix controlled by switch when air con turned on. cables for the hot cold flap already in place. So if looked at as just a blower assembly for housing an evaporator and heat matrix - would it be worth a go or is there a better way to get an evaporator/blower in the engine bay?

[manic]

Wondering if it would even fit in my engine bay. Picture suggests good posibility .
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/470.jpg

I think I may look into this further, so let it be known I'm on the look out for a unit in any condition.

:)

[rover-56]

Even with the warnings about it being a PITA, I'm wondering if I could make use of just the housing and cores. Was the main issue, the size of it impeding repairs in the engine bay? Or was it the overall set up with vacuum controls and such?

The heater/evap unit can be made to work well with a rebuild. It is the ducting behind the dash and the vacuum setup that is the main problem. On the 85 3.9D I once had I ripped out all the fascia ducting, the parcel tray and air box is still in behind it all. I cut a single large rectangular hole in the floor of the parcel tray (air box) and fabricated a single central duct to fit. The result was excellent for both airflow and cooling. Sorry no pics, it was before digital cameras. (remember film?) Terry

[flagg]

Mine worked well, but is being removed to make room for a turbo. As others have said you need to tidy it up for best results.

[manic]

it was before digital cameras. (remember film?) Terry

I only miss the click of the shutter.

[rover-56]

I only miss the click of the shutter.

Most digital cameras offer a fake shutter click. See? you can have everything. :-) T

[isuzu110]

I've had a county with one of these units fitted. I live in Qld and toured in that vehicle right around Oz and I was glad to have it. I found it to be reasonably effective, as long as you redid all the sealing foams in the system to eliminate air leaks.

The vacuum control hoses also had a habit of leaking with age.

They are a large unit and usually rule out the fitment of the turbo on the passenger size.

If you have the space under the bonnet, I still recon they are an option for Oz conditions. Yes, there are better options.

[tc_s1]

Any chance since these so often were pulled out and discarded, that someone may have one still sitting around in a shed or storage (any condition) that I could pry loose from them?

[tc_s1]

would this be one ?
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/527.jpg

pic found in this thread
Clarkie's County Auto Conversion (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/79265-clarkies-county-auto-conversion.html)

I dont like how the vent flaps are sealed with black plastic covers, At least Pumas still look like they have vents even if they dont open





.
That does look like one, yes.

[lebanon]

I have this masterpiece of engineering that is the MUC1663, but it is already in the trash bin, spent hundreds of dollars to make it work but it didn't. hot air leaks from the engine bay kept warmed the cooled air coming to the evaporator. The blower is so weak that you will barely feel any coolness on your face. The other nightmare is the vacuum system with its plastic components, they age and get harder because of the engine bay heat, you will end up with super fragile pieces that break because of vibration. In winter you hardly get any hot air from this unit, you will spend your time sweeping the condensation from the windscreen while shivering from cold.

I already replaced this marvel with the standard LR heater unit and I am looking to fit a home made two piece condenser system ( front and back).

[fitzy]

I just received my replacement heater for my project and up for grabs I now have one of these if you are still after one.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/08/493.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/08/494.jpg

[Zcoota]

I'm about to check if my evaporator gets cold as the compressor still kick in......I'm afraid....very afraid. This looks like a pig of a job to open it up.....