My Interior is HOT...Heater/Vent Issue?

[Iron Chef]

The interior of my '71 Bee gets extremely warm.  Now, I should say right here that I have headers, and Texas isn't known for cool breezes in June, but it seems extremely warm inside the car while driving.  It is a non-A/C car with no dash vents.  When pulled, the air vent knobs seem to let in warm air.  Can anyone tell me where they air comes from?

When I turn on the fan (dash controls) I feel nothing.  I don't even know where that air comes out.  I apologize if I'm vague, I just don't know the system that well.

Part of my plan is to get some Dynamat, but any suggestions to help cool the interior would be appreciated.   It appears that Vintage Air does not make a plug and play system for the Charger like they do the 70-74 Challenger.

Thanks! 

[oldcarnut]

It is a non-A/C car with no dash vents.  When pulled, the air vent knobs seem to let in warm air.  Can anyone tell me where they air comes from?
The vent air should be coming in through the cowl vents in front of the windshield.

When I turn on the fan (dash controls) I feel nothing.  I don't even know where that air comes out.  I apologize if I'm vague, I just don't know the system that well.
That should be coming from your heater box to the floor vent or defroster also from the cowl area.  Maybe you have heater box door stuck open to the heater core allowing the hot air in the car.  I don't know the differences between years but here's a link to show a breakdown of a heater box and a vent box to look at.  The headers on mine will warm the inside up a bit.  I get some of it coming up through the 4 speed shifter as I don't have it sealed good.

Part of my plan is to get some Dynamat, but any suggestions to help cool the interior would be appreciated.   It appears that Vintage Air does not make a plug and play system for the Charger like they do the 70-74 Challenger.

Thanks!  

[Iron Chef]

The vent air should be coming in through the cowl vents in front of the windshield.

That should be coming from your heater box to the floor vent or defroster also from the cowl area.  Maybe you have heater box door stuck open to the heater core allowing the hot air in the car.  I don't know the differences between years but here's a link to show a breakdown of a heater box and a vent box to look at.  The headers on mine will warm the inside up a bit.  I get some of it coming up through the 4 speed shifter as I don't have it sealed good.

OK...I played with it a little today and got everything to where air is coming from where it's supposed to be.  Still kinda hot.  I'm gonna try a few other solutions.  Thanks for the info!

[oldcarnut]

Not sure what happened to the links I previously posted but here they are.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,59526.20.html
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,13150.0.html

[Iron Chef]

Thanks for the links OCN.  Very very useful info when I finally tackle this project! 

[billschroeder5842]

Dude, live in Ft Worth....everything is going to be hot.

Just driving it around will make your inside temp about 100-105. It is a simply a function of outside air temp (today is 98) plus the heat the car just throws off--there is no way to get the car lower than the ambient temp outside.

just try to move the air you can...that is all you can do.

[Iron Chef]

Dude, live in Ft Worth....everything is going to be hot.

Just driving it around will make your inside temp about 100-105. It is a simply a function of outside air temp (today is 98) plus the heat the car just throws off--there is no way to get the car lower than the ambient temp outside.

just try to move the air you can...that is all you can do.

Don't I know it Bill!  I drove to a car show this evening and about roasted.  I'm gonna try insulating anyway but holy smokes...I can't believe we drove these as daily drivers back in the day! 

This is one car that I wish was ordered with A/C, but then again, it started life as a Canadian Export, so it makes sense that it didn't!

[bricklayer]

put a bypass on your heater hoses on the outside before the hot water goes into your driving compartment this wil help some  tom

[NHCharger]

Huh, just saw this thread. My 71 gets hot inside also. A large part of the problem is the headers and duel exhaust. I have one of those infra red temperature guns and after 10 minutes at idle the inside of the firewall by the brake pedal was 180º. There should be a seal on the front edge of the cowl so when the hood is down it seals the area between the cowl where your fresh air comes from and the engine compartment.
I just bought some thermo-coustic barrier from Eastwood which I am installing this week. It's half the price of Dynamat and according to Eastwood's test results just as effective. I'll post the results after I get it installed.

[69bronzeT5]

Definitley get some type of Dynamat product. I don't have anything in my Duster, bare floors and last weekend after driving about 15 minutes, I could definitley feel the heat on my legs from the headers and exhaust....

[Iron Chef]

I just bought some thermo-coustic barrier from Eastwood which I am installing this week. It's half the price of Dynamat and according to Eastwood's test results just as effective. I'll post the results after I get it installed.

I'd really like to see those pics! 

[NHCharger]

Check out this thread, I posted some pics

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,43004.0.html

[Iron Chef]

Check out this thread, I posted some pics

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,43004.0.html

Beautiful job!  I have this bookmarked so I can refer back to it!  Thanks again! 

[Iron Chef]

After a lot of thought, I've decided that I'm gonna pull out and basically restore the entire interior.  Seats, dash, dashpad, everything.  I'm gonna clean up any wiring issues, put in a new firewall pad, dynamat (or something similar) throughout including the trunk and doors, and additional heat insulation in the areas of heat buildup (e.g. firewall and transmission tunnel).  I'll also rebuild the heater box like has been by several folks in here and put in new carpet.  A lot of work, but worth the effort.