DIY - Heater Core replacement using 124 Core

[Vagone]

@xunonove
Fresh Air intake before & after EvapO rust soak. Pics as noted. The tube hinge was seized. Would not budge.
Before:

And after soak for 48 hours w/brushing. Hinge cleared w/WD-40. Will also grease after coating flap.

 

[RoyS]

I think if I used Evap-o-rust on mine I wouldn't have anything left....

Roy

 

[darwoodious]

I'll be attempting to use the original style set with the K24 swap, I've been digging into tach converters and the cable drive & pulse converters that Dakota Digital makes.

Cool. Keep me posted on your progress.

I found a company local to my area (Seattle, the shop is just about an hour north of me) that I bought this from
TechnoVersions - TachMatch for Tachometer Converter. Also, his about page is great. I did some back/forth emails with him regarding this as well as my idea to drive an electric motor directly on the FIAT/Bertone/Veglia speedometer. He apparently tried something similar on his MG-J2 but is still refining it for low speeds etc.

UPDATE:

ALSO side note, would you also be willing to sell your old '87-88 style guages, since you don't seem to be using them anymore?

You also might do what I did to get my late Bertone instrument cluster: go to eBay UK. They all have oil pressure instead of voltage AND since the Brits can't decide between Standard(English) and Metric measurement systems, they still use MPH! Not cheap tho:
Fiat x19 x/19 Instrument Cluster speedo dash guages BERTONE 52k | eBay
yeah, that's $250 USD. Too much, wait for better/cheaper (I got mine from eBay UK for £37 + shipping)

 

[Vagone]

I think if I used Evap-o-rust on mine I wouldn't have anything left....

View attachment 44042

Roy

WOW.... I will not complain about rust ever again... OK maybe. Yeah, I think that would just EvapO..... evaporate completely.

 

[Vagone]

Cool. Keep me posted on your progress.

I found a company local to my area (Seattle, the shop is just about an hour north of me) that I bought this from
TechnoVersions - TachMatch for Tachometer Converter. Also, his about page is great. I did some back/forth emails with him regarding this as well as my idea to drive an electric motor directly on the FIAT/Bertone/Veglia speedometer. He apparently tried something similar on his MG-J2 but is still refining it for low speeds etc.

UPDATE:

You also might do what I did to get my late Bertone instrument cluster: go to eBay UK. They all have oil pressure instead of voltage AND since the Brits can't decide between Standard(English) and Metric measurement systems, they still use MPH! Not cheap tho:
Fiat x19 x/19 Instrument Cluster speedo dash guages BERTONE 52k | eBay
yeah, that's $250 USD. Too much, wait for better/cheaper (I got mine from eBay UK for £37 + shipping)

TechnoVersions - cool stuff, even the Meter Match looks interesting. Very similar to the Dakota with micro switch fine adjustments to bump up and down. Love small shop manufacturers like this. HMS electronics http://hms-electronics.com is a board maker I get adapter products from for my installation projects in museums. Basically one guy and some helpers. But SHOP RELIEF!! HAHAHA! Fantastic idea. I busted out laughing and my family is looking at me weird now. A true hole-in-the-wall.

OK, I never knew the UK versions of the X's had the oil press gauge. I wonder why region specific? Yeah, that listing is a tad pricey. I think I paid about $90 for the one with the proper counter clockwise tach. I could also experiment with just replacing the faces. Henk @ X19parts Holland has white faces but all in KMH. He doesn't list an MPH version, unless it's hiding in a back room somewhere and is "off menu."

 

[lookforjoe]

Edit - @lookforjoe I may be confusing your old dash pic form your fantastic binnacle conversion (you've had a busy pandemic winter!) with this picture from @darwoodious from the oil pressure gauge thread. Or can the useless voltmeter gauge be converted to an oil press with a sender & icon modifications.... Anyway Seeking this style... I have my current 86 style and a 79 style dashes.with the clockwise tach, that came on the car. The PO must have changed it. Anbody need those let me know.

You can get the OE style heater valve from Gruppo Ricambi Bielstein in Germany. I just put a vacuum operated valve in the engine bay.

I modded my old cluster - - it does have the OP gauge, however I printed a reverse-scale face for it, as I used a VDO (Volvo) OP sender. I also chopped up the facia & rearranged the gauges. The speedo is Fiat electronic, with X1/9 face. The backside connectors are all modded, so I can't say it would be something I'd be comfortable selling, unless your plan is to dismantle it for the gauges

 

[Vagone]

You can get the OE style heater valve from Gruppo Ricambi Bielstein in Germany. I just put a vacuum operated valve in the engine bay.

I modded my old cluster - - it does have the OP gauge, however I printed a reverse-scale face for it, as I used a VDO (Volvo) OP sender. I also chopped up the facia & rearranged the gauges. The speedo is Fiat electronic, with X1/9 face. The backside connectors are all modded, so I can't say it would be something I'd be comfortable selling, unless your plan is to dismantle it for the gauges

Wow yes I see now. I replied about this in your PM. I'll keep looking for something. Great solution for seeing the tach better - MOVE IT OVER! Damn, that was another intense project of yours. Impressed as always. I will strive to equal your ingenuity...

 

[Rod Midkiff]

not sure where it is posted, some time back someone did a very nice write-up on putting an aftermarket heat/ac box in their x1/9 looked very nice. I would think it would work better than repairing the old and with the older parts getting harder and harder to find replacements for.

 

[lookforjoe]

not sure where it is posted, some time back someone did a very nice write-up on putting an aftermarket heat/ac box in their x1/9 looked very nice. I would think it would work better than repairing the old and with the older parts getting harder and harder to find replacements for.

Rodger was one - there was someone else who was considering it, and then changed his mind. I was contemplating going that route before I found that mine is really not in bad shape.

 

[lookforjoe]

I think if I used Evap-o-rust on mine I wouldn't have anything left....

Roy

My spare didn't like the acid-dip treatment.... can be repaired though...

 

[Anthonyp]

Hi guys i own a 1978 series 1 and recently purchased the early 124 heater core. 45mm i wasn't too keen on modifying the heater box to suit the larger 65mm core and when i removed my original core it measured in at 45mm. i presumed that it had been replaced in the past possibly, as to my knowledge the original x19 core is 51mm. Anyway for anyone wanting to replace their core without modifying the box, i can say it fits perfectly. I have yet to install it as the car is far from complete in the restoration that im doing but i did fit it in the box to check fitment and all is good.

 

[darwoodious]

Hi guys i own a 1978 series 1 and recently purchased the early 124 heater core. 45mm i wasn't too keen on modifying the heater box to suit the larger 65mm core and when i removed my original core it measured in at 45mm. i presumed that it had been replaced in the past possibly, as to my knowledge the original x19 core is 51mm. Anyway for anyone wanting to replace their core without modifying the box, i can say it fits perfectly. I have yet to install it as the car is far from complete in the restoration that im doing but i did fit it in the box to check fitment and all is good.

Good to hear that. Shouldn't stop you from sharing some photos. Would love to see the fitment.

 

[Dr.Jeff]

i presumed that it had been replaced in the past possibly, as to my knowledge the original x19 core is 51mm. Anyway for anyone wanting to replace their core without modifying the box, i can say it fits perfectly.

Sounds encourging. Thanks for the feedback.

If yours was replaced previously, is it possibly the box has already been modified in some way as well? I imagine it might be fairly obvious if you take a close look at things.

 

[Anthonyp]

Sounds encourging. Thanks for the feedback.

If yours was replaced previously, is it possibly the box has already been modified in some way as well? I imagine it might be fairly obvious if you take a close look at things.

no the box looks untouched. Being that the stock size is 51mm the 45mm fits easy. Here are the pics guys. Hope this helps. Just also to let everyone know I’m in Australia. I’m unsure if the heater boxes were different throughout countries. But I’m sure they weren’t.

 

[Anthonyp]

View attachment 44910

 

[Dr.Jeff]

Excellent result. Nice job on restoring the heater box, it looks like new. Great pics also.

Sounds to me like the thinner version of the 124 core is the best option for replacing a non-AC heater in the X1/9. No mods needed to the box so it is basically plug-and-play (unless I missed something). The small difference in thickness with this core shouldn't have any noticeable effect on the heat output.

 

[Anthonyp]

Excellent result. Nice job on restoring the heater box, it looks like new. Great pics also.

Sounds to me like the thinner version of the 124 core is the best option for replacing a non-AC heater in the X1/9. No mods needed to the box so it is basically plug-and-play (unless I missed something). The small difference in thickness with this core shouldn't have any noticeable effect on the heat output.

cheers. Yeah i cleaned and repainted the box and replaced the top vent lid material also. I don't think the core will have any noticeable differences once its on asa far as heat is concerned. its only 6mm difference. Here is some before and afters.

 

[Anthonyp]

 

[lanciahf]

The foam around the heater core. Which one did you use?

Or does anyone else have suggestions?
Thanks

 

[lookforjoe]

The foam around the heater core. Which one did you use?

Or does anyone else have suggestions?
Thanks

Closed cell neoprene. You can buy 1/16" , 1/8" etc., in 1" - 2" strips (off Amazon). 1/8" is about right