County heater box and rear seats

[3.9County]

Hello everyone im new and have just recently aquired an isuzu county. When the aftermarket turbo was installed the heater unit was discarded. Would it be possible to reinstall the heater unit? If so.. where could I find one? Impossible to drive when its wet.. As you could probably imagine..:( Even contemplated removing the doors to make up for the lack od demisting performance.:D Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[isuzurover]

You need a defender heater. I am looking for one too if you find one!!!

The county heater is integral with the Air Con, and the turbo and AC want to be in the same spot...

[3.9County]

Yeah that's my problem the orginal heater/AC is too big with the turbo, so wondering whether a defender heater would fit. I know the dash is a little different but hopefully thats easily fixed. Hard to find these heaters. :(

[County3.9]

Yeah that's my problem the orginal heater/AC is too big with the turbo, so wondering whether a defender heater would fit. I know the dash is a little different but hopefully thats easily fixed. Hard to find these heaters. :(

The defender heater fits and works a treat. I changed the dash, heater and installed under windscreen vents in mine. You can buy all the items from Triumph Rover spares in SA. $300 for the heater and all ducting, $400 for the complete dash and firewall vents. Prices included postage from SA to Perth.
P.S. Nice forum name by the way...

[DeeJay]

I must be dyslexic, I thought you had somehow installed a heater in one day:o. I kept looking at the dates.:bangin::lol2:

[County3.9]

I must be dyslexic, I thought you had somehow installed a heater in one day:o. I kept looking at the dates.:bangin::lol2:

I might get that a bit now

[3.9County]

yeh like your name, great minds think alike. Is there anyway to install the heater without changing the dash?? Cheers for the info.

[County3.9]

You might..., but you'll have to fix open the intake vent which isn't desirable (can’t turn off the air in summer or when the engine is cold in winter). Even then you may not be able to control the heat properly due to the different throw of the county heat lever. I can't say for sure as I blew of the idea as soon as I saw the differences between the two set-ups.
The trouble is that the defender heater is controlled by a number of cables. One cable (LH side of steering wheel) opens an intake flap to allow air into the heater (also switches on the fan) and therefore into the cabin. Another cable (lever on the RH side of steering wheel) controls the heat by moving a flap which mixes heated air and non-heated air. The third lever on the RH side controls the demist/ foot distribution via a cable to flaps inside the dash.
The county set-up only has a cable to mix cool and hot air inside the heater box, the rest is controlled by vacuum actuators. To modify the actuators to fit the defender heater would be a huge task, if not impossible.
Changing over the whole dash and fitting the vents in the firewall was a big task. Was it worth it?...You bet!;)

[County3.9]

OR, Just fit the levers on the side of the instruments and leave the rest of the county dash alone, That'll work!

[3.9County]

Thanx mate, I think I'll have to contemplate doing exactly as you say. I mean how could i not trust a person that has the same name, the same red 3.9 County and lives in the same city. Now I just have to learn something about installing a heater system!

[Freestyler]

The Defender heater which was also fitted to non AC countys to comply with the Australian Design Rules. The heater itself will bolt straight up and the intake ducting. you can leave the county dash alone or pull it out. If you leave the county dash in it you can still use the controls to operate the heater but the heater doesn't have the vacuum valve to turn the heater tap on and off the defender on had full water flow all the time and there is a flap in there to stop the air being forced in when you don't want it to. All the bit are available and should bolt up. I'm in the reverse process I have pulled out the heater and fitted an AC and am in the process of setting it all up.