I relocated my blower motor to clear my valve covers (PICS!)
A couple years ago I put a 440/727 in my '74 Duster. Shortly after I switched from the stamped factory valve covers to the cast Mopar valve covers. As a result I had to switch to manual brakes and remove my blower motor from the firewall.
At the time I made a delete plate to fill the hole left from the blower motor. I thought it turned out great but, I just wasn't happy with it.
So this weekend I made a couple of changes.
I needed to use a blower motor with a smaller case diameter to clear the valve cover. So I did some homework and found a blower motor from a '73 Dodge D-100 (Part # PM-351) from Napa. Darn thing is made in china (I just pointed that sticker at the ground where no one can see it). I grabbed up the old the original blower motor with the squirrel cage fan on it.
There is plenty of room in there to offset the squirrel cage fan away from the engine. So I layed out the bolt pattern of the new motor on the delete plate and drilled them out with a 1/4" drill bit. I double checked the location of the center hole for the shaft and drilled it with a 3/8" drill bit for my knockout punch. I had to use 2 knockout punches, starting a 3/4" and finishing it with a 1".
The studs were a little too long and interfered with the ribs on the back of the squirrel cage fan.
So I used a dremel tool and trimmed them down.
Here you can see how much I offset the blower motor (and that I forgot to take a picture of it with the rubber seal that goes between the delete plate and the fire wall).
Now for the moment of truth! It was a super tight to get it in the firewall with the motor and fan assembled. But it can be done. Patience was key. Notice the rubber seal.
Here it is installed!
Wiring is simple, one wire goes to the ground the other goes to the factory blower motor power wire.
I have had this car for 5 years and have never had a functional heater or A/C so I can't say how much the offset fan has reduced the air flow through the vents. But it works!
Let me know what you guys think!
A couple years ago I put a 440/727 in my '74 Duster. Shortly after I switched from the stamped factory valve covers to the cast Mopar valve covers. As a result I had to switch to manual brakes and remove my blower motor from the firewall.
At the time I made a delete plate to fill the hole left from the blower motor. I thought it turned out great but, I just wasn't happy with it.
So this weekend I made a couple of changes.
I needed to use a blower motor with a smaller case diameter to clear the valve cover. So I did some homework and found a blower motor from a '73 Dodge D-100 (Part # PM-351) from Napa. Darn thing is made in china (I just pointed that sticker at the ground where no one can see it). I grabbed up the old the original blower motor with the squirrel cage fan on it.
There is plenty of room in there to offset the squirrel cage fan away from the engine. So I layed out the bolt pattern of the new motor on the delete plate and drilled them out with a 1/4" drill bit. I double checked the location of the center hole for the shaft and drilled it with a 3/8" drill bit for my knockout punch. I had to use 2 knockout punches, starting a 3/4" and finishing it with a 1".
The studs were a little too long and interfered with the ribs on the back of the squirrel cage fan.
So I used a dremel tool and trimmed them down.
Here you can see how much I offset the blower motor (and that I forgot to take a picture of it with the rubber seal that goes between the delete plate and the fire wall).
Now for the moment of truth! It was a super tight to get it in the firewall with the motor and fan assembled. But it can be done. Patience was key. Notice the rubber seal.
Here it is installed!
Wiring is simple, one wire goes to the ground the other goes to the factory blower motor power wire.
I have had this car for 5 years and have never had a functional heater or A/C so I can't say how much the offset fan has reduced the air flow through the vents. But it works!
Let me know what you guys think!
