Small Heater Motor?

[anupaum]

Does anyone here know of a SMALLER blower motor that will work for a Ranger? I need to find something that's thinner than the stock one.

 

[MAKG]

If you're making your own heater box, the issue is not the blower motor, but rather the squirrel cage.

Finding a smaller one will lose air blower performance, in proportion.

 

[anupaum]

If you're making your own heater box, the issue is not the blower motor, but rather the squirrel cage.

Finding a smaller one will lose air blower performance, in proportion.

I'm not making my own heater box. I'm trying to eliminate vibration from contact with my supercharger intake.

 

[cocoasranger]

I checked out your Robert's Ranger site. Wow, that setup is great. It couldn't be much of a tighter fit. You can't see where the interference is from the photos, but I'm sure it's a bear of a problem. I think this may be one of those "you have to be there to figure it out" situations. Good luck.

 

[anupaum]

I checked out your Robert's Ranger site. Wow, that setup is great. It couldn't be much of a tighter fit. You can't see where the interference is from the photos, but I'm sure it's a bear of a problem. I think this may be one of those "you have to be there to figure it out" situations. Good luck.

The site hasn't been updated in a LONG time. This photo should help you understand what I'm up against:

The blower intake BARELY clears the heater motor I've got installed. (It's a GM unit, which is smaller than the Ford one.) Apparently, however, there's a heater motor for late model Cadillacs that extends only 1.25 inches out from the firewall. I found one on e-bay. That may be the route I have to take.

 

[Mark_88]

Would shaving the heater box itself help? Can't remember the details of what sticks out, but you might be able to take a 1/4 " off the back plastic and then fab some mount brackets to hold it in place...

 

[anupaum]

Would shaving the heater box itself help? Can't remember the details of what sticks out, but you might be able to take a 1/4 " off the back plastic and then fab some mount brackets to hold it in place...

I've thought of modifying the heater box, but I haven't for a couple of reasons. First, I need the fan to work properly because it gets COLD up here and I have to have a working defrost and heater. I didn't want to mess with the box because that might limit the space for the squirrel fan. Also, I hate working with plastic almost as much as I hate wiring. I wanted to do as LITTLE as possible, and when I installed the GM fan and it fit without touching the blower intake, I was pleased as could be. (Mind you, it was a TIGHT fit!)

However, the engine moves quite a bit more than most people imagine. Right now, between 1 500 and 1 800 rpm there's an annoying vibration and vexatious noise coming from the passenger's side of the engine compartment.

So it looks like I have two options: Either hack the heater box, or buy the Cadillac fan.

This truck is costing me WAY too much money!!!

 

[Mark_88]

Well, I hear you on the cold for sure...it was -25 last night here in ON and tonight promises to be colder...my Zuki is a convertible with a hard top...it took almost an hour to clear the glass today and I had to go to TO for a dentist appointment...my left foot was frozen by the time I got there...

Probably not many options to choose from by the looks of the picture...I would imagine it's the back end of the SC that's clacking against the box and there's probably no way to move that forward an inch even...

Is there plumbing or something else back there that can be altered other than going the fan route?

 

[anupaum]

Well, I hear you on the cold for sure...it was -25 last night here in ON and tonight promises to be colder...my Zuki is a convertible with a hard top...it took almost an hour to clear the glass today and I had to go to TO for a dentist appointment...my left foot was frozen by the time I got there...

I hate to say this, but it's sunny and warm here today. After over a month of bitterly cold weather my boys are outside throwing the football around in their short sleeves! We still have a little bit of snow on the ground that's not expected to last more than a day or two at this rate.

Probably not many options to choose from by the looks of the picture...I would imagine it's the back end of the SC that's clacking against the box and there's probably no way to move that forward an inch even...

Is there plumbing or something else back there that can be altered other than going the fan route?

The supercharger has to align with the serpentine belt system, so it CAN'T move. I've actually raised it in an effort to avoid further contact with the heater motor, and as a result I've had problems getting the hood to shut. If I can get a thinner heater motor in there, I can lower the blower again and that will solve other problems as well!

It's all VERY tight under the hood now. I remember looking at that engine bay once, thinking: "Wow, I've got all this room to work with!"

Those days are LONG gone . . .