Here in Minnesota it's going to be warm enough to get the old 280SEL (1970) on the road pretty soon, but the winter project is not done yet.

This weekend the decision will be made whether to just give up on the heater and blower repair or to proceed.

Here is where I am:

I have EVERYTHING out that's required - the complete dash, one seat, the center console, the steering wheel, the heater hoses are disconnected.

Within the past 2 months I have been trying for several hours to figure out how to get to heater and blower.

Both heater and blower are enclosed in a plastic shell. The rear is mounted to the firewall, the front is connected to the rear with metal clips and some screws. I am at a point where the right side of the front shell is completely loose. If I cut the shell in half vertically, that side would just come out.

The left side consists of the lower rectangular boxy part that is connected, to an upper half shell in the shape of a half ball which obviously houses the blower. The upper portion of that half ball is completely inaccessible, it is right under the upper (metal) part of the dashboard. And that's exactly where the whole shell will not move. I have tried to get my fingers in there as deep as possible without finding anything.

I have spent so much time under the dashboard that I really don't want to give up on this. Not that I would desperately need heat, but I want it fixed, and I am so far with it.

I can see the upper portion of the blower through the cowl, but I haven't located any screws or fasteners in that location.

Does anybody know how to proceed from here? I can't figure this out - the heater shell will not move at all in that location.

I have set this Saturday as the day where a decision is made.

Greatful for any help

DIetrich

If you haven't, you will also need to remove the carpet on the transmission well and then take out the two air vents that run along the floor to each seat. This will give you enough room to side out the heater box. If you have A/C, you will probably need to remove the condenser also. If still does not side out towards the passenger side check that the upper air defroster vents are out as well.
You have to work the box a lot, but it will come out.
It does not help to pull the clips off the box (that hold the two half's together). Take it apart when it is out.
It would be smart to take the heater core to a radiator shop and have them clean and refurbish it. It you don't Murphy's Law will cause a leak two weeks after you put everything back together. Also replace the o-rings in the valves of the heater core. The radiator shop would not do this. Your dealership can order them for you (there are two sets of o-rings for each valve and they only cost about a $1).
I did this all to mine and the heater runs great.
Good Luck

__________________
Britton McIntyre

68 280 SE coupe 'Hairball'
70 280 SL
71 280 SEL - RIP May 2010

I was always under the assumption I should take the separate pieces out together: front shell, heater, blower, rear shell.

I guess I should clip it all back together and then give it another try????

As a unit....

__________________
A Dalton

I found out the hard way that separation does not work.
You don't have to reclip it. Just push it together and put it out.

__________________
Britton McIntyre

68 280 SE coupe 'Hairball'
70 280 SL
71 280 SEL - RIP May 2010

Thank you very much. I've read through whatever I could find and always took it to mean remove in separate parts.

Thanks

My 1967 250SE heater matrix ???
My 1967 250SE heater matrix ???

Not sure how to link to past threads but if it works it will help you
Paul

I finally seem to be on the right track to getting the heater box out. Maybe another 20 - 30 hours, and I'll have it. ;-)

One more question I do have is: How is the rear of the box mounted to the firewall? All I can see is one screw on the left and one on the right, both holding some kind of a rail to the firewall. Is the box mounted to that rail??
What other screws might there be? Anything from the outside, like inside the cowl?

Paul: Your photos are very very helpful!

There is only two screws holding the plate to the fire wall and the plate is attached to the heater box. There is not any thing else.
If it will make feel better everything goes back together quicker.

__________________
Britton McIntyre

68 280 SE coupe 'Hairball'
70 280 SL
71 280 SEL - RIP May 2010