Cj2a Defroster??

ok, building a CJ2a for the Mtns of NC and (gasp) Im going so far to appease the wife that Im putting in a REAL heater AND heated seats. But since this thing will possibly be a partial DD, I need a defroster as well. Anybody got any tips/tricks to do so. I figure Ill do some sort of aftermarket style. Its just that goofy duct is just, well; goofy. Im almost positive that I will add in a secondary, bolt in dash panel; primary purpose to not stand on my head to work on the wiring. Thinking about offsetting it 1/2" just to route a duct.
I have the fab skills to do almost anything like that, but sometimes simple is better, but Im not scared of making something functional over stock. I have restored a factory perfect GPW, and have no desire to do that again. even considering the late model chevy trick of routing water to the heater first before opening the thermostat!

-Chuck

 

Every time I disassemble a car, I keep the heater ductwork. It’s always a conglomeration of interesting 1” tubing and spouts. Like miniature shop vac hoses and attachments.

I figure if I ever need to run a defroster in a flatty, I’ll use that as a seasonal solution. It could clip onto the dash during the winter with those tool clips that hang mops in a closet, then remove it for the rest of the year.

 

Man, I donno. That seems like a tall order in a CJ2A with the venting windshield. I had a hardtop in Wa state (Olympia) and the rain was everyday inside and outside. I kept a rag in there to wipe off the condensation.

The worst was in New jersey in my 77 CJ5 in the winter. That had a "defroster"... Condensation would freeze inside on the glass AND outside. I would have to smash off the ice on the soft top.

That was the winter I decided to move out of new jersey forever.

 

Attach one of these pointed at the windshield...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YWFQ2K...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

FWIW,
Mike

 

This is what I made for the 3B.


Function wise, it is the same as the CJ 5/6 arrangement. I used it with a Datsun 310 heater for decades. It wasn't ideal as the defrost vents exited the sides and had a couple of 90 degree elbows to get into my duct below the windshield. It is in the process of being replaced by a Vintage Air unit with the defrost aimed at the dash and my duct-perfect. The Vintage Air unit comes with ducting and vents but I didn't use any of that. My vents are from a 60 Rambler-----
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIx5eU8sif5QIVBNVkCh1CGwfMEAQYAiABEgJRk_D_BwE

The Vintage Air unit has another advantage: It is all servo controlled. No cables to deal with. I installed the same unit in my RZR 900 Trail.

 

Here is the correct defroster for a flat fender.

Specialty Parts | Herm The Overdrive Guy

 

Mine has a rubber hose up to a copper pipe with slots in it. Its clean. It sorta works if it had a stronger fan and the heat actually got hot it might actually be acceptable. When i used to use it in high school all winter id have to crouch down to see through the little triangle on the bottom.

 

I like Mike's Amazon mini hair dryer!
I parted out an old flat-fender decades ago that had that defroster duct on the windshield frame like Herm reproduces. I thought it was cobbled together by some previous owner. Never knew those were factory parts!
-Donny