Heater Control 56 Ford

[Jwawhite]

Does anyone have any experience with the Heater/Air/Defrost Control?

B6A 18549-D

The Plenum over the hump is missing..I believe removed for the under dash AC unit.

The three cables are still attached to the unit, but one is detached, I think it attached to the vacuum solenoid still mounted on the heater box. One out to the inside fender flap and the last one on the Defrost Flap inside the heater box.

The upper bar is detached…the one to the solenoid, the lower bar has a lot of slop but still operates the outer and inner flap. This lever is very difficult to operate Even the knob swivels.

Suggestions to ease the movement?

 

[Jwawhite]

Well ok, it’s a Rest Oh! Mod. I’ve installed a cable operated heater core valve on the inlet side of the heater core and will attach a cable from the upper bar on the Heater Lever, Control Unit, to the same valve in the engine compartment.
I note there is a hole in the upper right heater core housing prolly from the stock vacuum lines of old.
I’ll have a heater and defroster.

 

[KULTULZ]

​

R U saying they cut (modified) the heater plenum case to fit a KNEE-KNOCKER aftermarket AC EVAP CASE?

 

[Jwawhite]

Yes, the whole Left side is missing….
I’ll get a photo of the dash soon and post it.

The Lower Lever is kept in the Right Air Vent position, the EEC/EEC? is mounted on the side wall behind the passenger kick panel. The Kick Panel was made as a cover over the opening of the vent to direct air on the ECU.

Reading about the ECU, it is a good idea to have it in the cab and I understand there is a heat sink inside of it. It is hot after operating for a bit.

Ps I understand the mechanical vacuum valve mounted on the main box is unobtainium. I have one.

That 56 Continental Mark II is a good looking car.

 

[miker98038]

Having a place in Tucson ( and having been there when it snowed for the first time in 22 years) and a friend in Goodyear, you need the a/c more than warm air on your feet. Or at least wayyyy more often.

In a side note, I’ve had a number of those heater valves that didn’t really hold pressure. Over 2500 or so rpm, the heat came on. Might be worth checking now that it’s cooled off down there. In the summer a blast of hot air really overrides the a/c. And yes, I had them installed correctly.

 

[KULTULZ]

Yes, the whole Left side is missing….
I’ll get a photo of the dash soon and post it.

The Lower Lever is kept in the Right Air Vent position,

Well, the origional heater design has been compromised. No good reason.

... the EEC/EEC? is mounted on the side wall behind the passenger kick panel. The Kick Panel was made as a cover over the opening of the vent to direct air on the ECU.

Reading about the ECU, it is a good idea to have it in the cab and I understand there is a heat sink inside of it. It is hot after operating for a bit.

That is the correct position. Has the kick panel been modified to accept the ECU or did they fabricate something to hide it?

Ps I understand the mechanical vacuum valve mounted on the main box is unobtainium. I have one.

1956 FORD MAGICAIRE -

That is a flow regulating valve whereas you can control the heat output (temp) of the heater as desired when the heater is ON. The PN is B5A 18502-B and still shows on EvilBay.

There is also a HEATER CONTROL VALVE (18495) that is ON/OFF (coolant flow) and was mounted on the intake manifold of the FYB.

You have a 5.0L conversion. Did they make a provision for that valve or is the coolant continually flowing through the heater core??

 

[Jwawhite]

Yep Part 18471 is gone, perhaps to make room for lower dash mounted AC. Never noticed before until I started crawling around under the dash.

I can now get heat and defrost on those rare rare occasions here, this am? 39F.

The passenger floor space is large and unaware ppl don’t notice how the kick panel bows out from the start and ends flush at the pillar. The OBD1 cable is also hidden.

I installed a cable shutoff valve on the outlet side of the water pump and mounted the hose to the lower bib of the heater core.

I had an extra plain Jane Left Air Vent cable made an L bracket for it and used an existing hole lower side of dash passenger side. The passenger pulls the knob for heat.

All knobs match on the dash now with the chrome insert.

That 56 Ford Continental Mark II is a good looking car, have one?

 

[KULTULZ]

Yep Part 18471 is gone, perhaps to make room for lower dash mounted AC. Never noticed before until I started crawling around under the dash.

I can now get heat and defrost on those rare rare occasions here, this am? 39F.

The passenger floor space is large and unaware ppl don’t notice how the kick panel bows out from the start and ends flush at the pillar. The OBD1 cable is also hidden.

I installed a cable shutoff valve on the outlet side of the water pump and mounted the hose to the lower bib of the heater core.

I had an extra plain Jane Left Air Vent cable made an L bracket for it and used an existing hole lower side of dash passenger side. The passenger pulls the knob for heat.

All knobs match on the dash now with the chrome insert.

That 56 Ford Continental Mark II is a good looking car, have one?

- - ??? DO WHAT ??? - -​

The ECM positioning is correct. If you saw the install on an eighties/nineties MUST for instance, the mounting bracket would be installed (hopefully) to have a more OEM appearance under the kick panel (not pushing out the panel too far as to detract from the OEM appearance). It could also have been installed under the PASS SEAT. Having to extend the harness was most likely too much for them.

A 56 MARK II?

A beautiful vehicle, meant to be restored not resto-modded. You thinking of trading up ...

Need a photo of the engine install and heater install.

 

[Jwawhite]

You will note the floor space on the passenger side from the photos and lack of space behind aftermarket AC and firewall---that's why the earlier owner removed the Plenum.
The Pull Handle was once a L side Air Vent cable. Note the curve and height of the R kick panel.
The cable hanging down from the firewall is the short upper cable to top slider on the Heater Control Unit. Will buy a longer cable and attach it to the heater control valve in the engine compartment and remove the Pull Handle.

 

[KULTULZ]

JW,

Can I see a shot of the evaporator case say from the middle of the front seat?

Also some engine compartment photos.

 

[Jwawhite]

Sure

 

[Jwawhite]

K I am in the process of removing my Heater Core, it has a pin hole leak

New development with 302 today, as soon as it came up to operating temp, seemed to be missing and almost stalled. When cold engine operates perfectly. Same thing left the car show with cold motor, great but up to temp started to run rough. Smells like wasted fuel too. If it was a vacuum leak it would also run rough cold... Had left bank spark wires zip tied together attached to AC to keep them out of the way while working on steering box. Took the zip off when I got home.. hot wires grounding on ea other??

 

[KULTULZ]

It never ends does it?

Be advised that the engine you now have (iron and aluminum) requires a different coolant than the previous GREEN.

Did they include a TEST PORT on the engine upgrade to be accessible with a scan tool?

 

[KULTULZ]

Now that is gnarly -

https://www.fordbarn.com/attachments/554937/​

Do you have the 1956 OWNERS MANUAL by chance?

 

[Jwawhite]

Yes, have SM.

Put in 50/50 mixture for all Fords from O’Wronglies.

Will pull cold and hot code (s)? Today or tomorrow. OBD 1

Like that old school AC eh?

Need to hide the radio antenna.

Why were you banned?

 

[KULTULZ]

Why were you banned?

​

The usual, trying to talk sense into some of the brake information given there.

They attack me and I return the favor and all of a sudden I am a no-good SOB.

I don't belong over there regardless. I just cruised through time to time to pickup any random FORD FACTOIDS.

I have never read (but have seen) such scary braking theory.

 

[Indyearl]

Yes, have SM.

Looking at your post, I really like the after market old style air cond unit. I'm concerning doing that also but I still have my original 272 and running fine.. Leaks oil some but its been around almost as long as I have. LOL We all leak after 70 years..

 

[Indyearl]

​

I have never read (but have seen) such scary braking theory.

You know some people just don't have any since of humor and don't recognize good info when they see it.

 

[KULTULZ]

Regarding the 55/56 FORD AC, it was integral. There was no knee-knocker evap case hanging down. Even the VINTAGE AIR SYSTEM is integral.

I have no idea why anyone would approach AC in this manner.