Heater core box, I think.

[prospector]

The giant triangular box under the hood of my wag (passenger side firewall) is making it hard for me to change the number 8 spark plug, I'm getting annoyed by it. How can I scrap it but still keep the heater core, I have no use for any of the a/c stuff, but I'll need the heater. Guess I'd rather be hot than cold. Anyone done this on the cheap?

[Tatsadasayago]

That's the heater/AC air box and you kinda need it.

You could save yourself a pile of effort and frustration by simply using a spark plug socket like this:

Put it on the plug and screw it in. Take the appropriate box end wrench and use it to tighten the plug.

Trust me, you're aren't the only one who hates the number 8 plug.

The other helpful spark plug tool is a Flexi-socket and extension like this one.

[HeavyMetalThunder_81]

Get it from underneath. That's how I do mine.

[Cheapthrills]

I second this motion....
And fyi your A/C has zero to do with your heat system... the A/C is set up like an aftermarket (standalone) system

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[Charles Kline]

2 nuts up behind the passenger side dash and 2 nuts in the engine compartment and It'll come free and you can flop it over near the battery.

The under dash AC covers the 2 inside nuts, but if you don't have that its a 30 second job.

-Charles

[prospector]

Decision made, it's gone. I'll fashion a small air box for the heater core outta sheet metal and pop-rivet it to the firewall, all that a/c stuff is scrap. I'll keep the compressor for OBA, but there's no need for such a large air box. I'm gonna start on a cowl induction setup pretty soon, that'll require cutting into the firewall, and that air box will just make the job even more difficult. Thanks for the input guys.

[prospector]

Well, upon further inspection it looks like the heater core sits out farther forward than the firewall. What I need to know is what does the inside of that box look like, what all's in there? Help.

[prospector]

I second this motion....
And fyi your A/C has zero to do with your heat system... the A/C is set up like an aftermarket (standalone) system

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But since the box has both the heater core AND a/c lines going to it, they ARE inter-related, they both share vents too. But what is INSIDE the box is what I need to know.

[Tatsadasayago]

This is the entire heating system.
The heater core is at an angle and does extend forward of the firewall.
Directly above the vacuum motor you can see two rectangular gaskets and they seal the ducting and heater core box to the firewall.

Like I said earlier, using a plug socket and wrench is less hassle than tearing up your heater box...

[prospector]

This is the entire heating system.
The heater core is at an angle and does extend forward of the firewall.
Directly above the vacuum motor you can see two rectangular gaskets and they seal the ducting and heater core box to the firewall.

Like I said earlier, using a plug socket and wrench is less hassle than tearing up your heater box...

Oooo awesomness!! This is great. You're my new FSJ best friend EVER! I would swear there were a couple of a/c hoses going into the box, hmmm. Well, I'll look again later, my eyes are not what they used to be.

[az chip]

Oooo awesomness!! This is great. You're my new FSJ best friend EVER!

LOL

[Cheapthrills]

What kind of jeep is this?

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[jpswapmohn]

those are the water lines going to the heater core from the radiator..

[HeavyMetalThunder_81]

The AC and heater systems on these rigs are two completely separate systems. They share no ducting or housing. Heck they even have separate blower motors and controls. The AC hoses go through the firewall under the heater box to the under dash AC unit. The two hoses going to the heater box are coolant hoses from the engine.
As posted above. It is far easier to R&R a spark plug with a wrench or from underneath than it is to hack out your heater system.

[prospector]

The other two hoses are a/c hoses, but they're long and loop under part of the box, I thought they went into the box but it just looked that way, my mistake.
So if the heater and a/c are completely unrelated, and share no components, where is the air blower located for the a/c?
Cause when the a/c is on and it's blowing, the heaters blower motor is running??

[SJTD]

Under the dash on top of the AC box.

What year is yours? Up until the final version they had totally separate controls.

[tgreese]

Yes, there is a separate squirrel cage blower for the AC. Heat and air don't even travel in the same ducts, with the AC duct hanging below the dash.

I expect this design dates back to the early 60s origins of the Wagoneer, when air conditioning was not routinely sold with cars. Jeep had a dealer-installed air conditioning package that hung below the dash and could be added at time of sale, as well as factory air. Factory air looked pretty much like dealer air ... except it was installed at the factory. Some parts are different, to allow easy installation on a fully-assembled car, but its mostly the same. Dealer air was still around in the 70s, and AMC called these packages "American Air." I don't know what Kaiser called its AC package - that was before I was old enough to be interested in cars the way I was in the 70s.

[prospector]

Under the dash on top of the AC box.

What year is yours? Up until the final version they had totally separate controls.

1979 360ci. Okay tgreese, I'll get into the dash. I was watching "Roadkill" and they found a '72 wagoneer to rescue, it had a flat airbox under the hood that was about half the size of mine and there was all kinds of room to get to the number 8 spark plug, same engine too, AMC 360. That is what I want, I have a small sheet metal brake and my idea is to use the left half of my box, and make a smaller right half out of sheet metal. Of course I'll use a good gasket putty and make it all air tight and everything. I have big hands and that number 8 is a son of a biscuit, no way to get to it from below, it's not impossible, but just a royal pita.

[kansasboy001]

Heater core is really easy to remove, not a bad idea either as you'll probably have 30 years of leaves in it too

[prospector]

I'm not sure, but I have a suspicion they (AMC) went to a larger heater core, that's the only thing I can think of for them enlarging the airbox. I'll run an F-150 heater core, or something similar if I have to, but the big box has gotta go, it'll help release underhood heat too.