'59 Plymouth Forum

Here's another question, hopefully a little easier this time. When I bought my Fury it had an aftermarket air-con unit fitted. I've since removed it and thought nothing more of it. However whilst I've been trying to sort engine colours and looking at every engine bay picture available I notice that all have an extra hose. Stood at the front looking at the heater box mounted on the fire wall, the two connections to the left are blanked off on my car ? I just have the lower and right hand connections piped to the engine. Any ideas ? What am I missing ? Has this something to do with the air-con I removed. Thanks Guy

Are the 2 connections gone or still there?

The 2 connections are part of the heater control valve.
The connection closest to the passenger side front fender is going to the connection under the heater box.
The inner connection goes to the water pump at the front of the engine.

They are still there. Just got plugs in the stubs. If I could work out how to get a picture on here I'd send one. Old dogs, new tricks as they say. Call me old fashioned but it seemed a lot easier with pencil and paper !

After doing this from my tired head I checked some pics.

I have to correct t myself.

The outer connection goes to the lower connection.
The inner connection goes on a connection between the carb and thermostat housing.

The connection on the water pump goes to the connection on the heater box just behind the air cleaner

The far-left pair of nipples lead to the heater control valve.
it would appear your car's previous owner bypassed the original heater control valve entirely. That valve is operated by the dash-mounted slide arm. Those valve seals get old in time and fail. But they can be re-built.
It sounds like the hot-water circulation has been directed straight to the heater core, bypassing the control valve, thus you will be getting hot air whether you want it or not!
Matthew, have I got this correct?

Picture is worth a thousand words...

Pictures are from Tom Fox's wonderful Belvedere Convertible, 318 Powered Gem.


John Q.

Thanks for info and pictures. I've not looked yet but the fact that the heater control was bypassed leads me to think it's in need of repair. If it can be rebuilt is there anything I need to be watching out for ? What usually fails on them ?

The seals get hard and stop working, or the seals gum up and the valve sticks open (or closed). It's no fun to have extra heat circulating thru the passenger compartment on a hot day, or NO heat on an icy morning.
This valve is controlled manually, via a rigid wire/cable. If you cannot easily move the heater control lever, most likely the valve is stuck. Less likely but also possible is the control cable has gotten bent.
The valve is re-buildable using a seal kit. Others on this site have done this repair..I believe they got the seals at Napa Auto. I am assuming you are not in the USA, but maybe someone will buy you a kit and mail it to you.