Heater matrix or motor exchange?

[Smoothmachines]

So, i got that donor car to take the motor from and out it into my Family van 1.4 from 1998.
Same model, no whole sunroof.
The car is as good as mine, plus it has a sound motor and drivetrain.
My car has a lot of interior tears, a grand danois used to be left in the car by previous owners and go bonkers , the donor car is not mint but nothing is damaged inside.
The heater matrix of the donor is broken, i looked at the Haynes manual and it seems like a lot of work.
Would you do a motor exchange from donor to your own car or would you fix the matrix and just keep the donor as new car?
Thanks for any advice!
Bruno

[3rensho]

A Great Dane going bonkers would be a sight to behold. Poor car. Personally I'd look into an interior repair.

[Smoothmachines]

I meant, i can put the donor motor into my regular car and repair the interior with the parts from the donor, anything i need is in good shape on the donor car.
But, the donor is in good shape too and only the heater matrix needs to be exchanged. I was reading you must strip the whole facia to do that, a difficult operation.
Is that easier than a motor (and probably whole drive train including wheel hubs and stuff) swap? I would then not have to repair the interior but instead swap bumpers and rear door with mine.

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The car is a green metallic Berlingo Family 1998 petrol 1.4 with big electrical sunroof, steering servo, no AC
The donor is just the same make, year and color, without sunroof.

[Roly]

I have changed the heater matrix in my 04 van, it is a big job. not having done a motor swap I think I would tackle the heater matrix again, both front seats out, steering colum out and then the dash out, you will then have to screw the whole heater unit off the bulkhead to be able to remove the heater matrix.
Hope this helps a little

[Smoothmachines]

I have changed the heater matrix in my 04 van, it is a big job. not having done a motor swap I think I would tackle the heater matrix again, both front seats out, steering colum out and then the dash out, you will then have to screw the whole heater unit off the bulkhead to be able to remove the heater matrix.
Hope this helps a little

For sure it is not worth to swap the heaters, 60£ for a new one is really worth the money.
The 98 and the 04 do not really have the same facia, maybe mine is easier? I was not prepared to remove the steering column, i´ve looked in a PDF Haynes manual and it was very unclear what to do but i could not see anything about the steering column. I don´t know how much it is to exchange engine and transmission yet. What was your level of experience and equipment when you changed that matrix?

[Roly]

I have changed the heater matrix in my 04 van, it is a big job. not having done a motor swap I think I would tackle the heater matrix again, both front seats out, steering colum out and then the dash out, you will then have to screw the whole heater unit off the bulkhead to be able to remove the heater matrix.
Hope this helps a little

For sure it is not worth to swap the heaters, 60£ for a new one is really worth the money.
The 98 and the 04 do not really have the same facia, maybe mine is easier? I was not prepared to remove the steering column, i´ve looked in a PDF Haynes manual and it was very unclear what to do but i could not see anything about the steering column. I don´t know how much it is to exchange engine and transmission yet. What was your level of experience and equipment when you changed that matrix?

Im not a qualified mechanic but my dad was one who has now retired, not too much would scare me apart from 240 volt electrics :boom: as long as you have the right equipment and tools it can be done. I have been thinking about your motor change, you could drop the whole front out complete, engine, gearbox and struts without much dismantling but you will require a lift and an extra pair of hands to help.

[Smoothmachines]

That is a very great idea, thanks!
I´m gonna look up that procedure in Haynes, i do have a good forklift and 16 extra hands if needed *S* So you´d say that is easier than ripping the dash out for heater matrix exchange?

[Smoothmachines]

I will do the heater and blower exchange instead of motor swap.
It is at least clean *S*
Thanks!

[Smoothmachines]

So i did, oh what a job!
The poor car looked dead without the dash on...
I should say "CARS" as i ripped off the dash on my daily driver, took out the heater/fan assy, ripped the dash of the new car to finally mount the heater/fan assy of my daily driver in it, took me the whole weekend. But i am sure it was not as sweaty as a motor swap, just a lot of screws and a lot of tricks.
One should be warned that Haynes misses a few screws in the facia removal describtion and it is very difficult to understand their position, hencing the multitude of stuff to take care about. The 2 rear screws on the handbrake cover and one screw all the way front and under the gear shift cover are forgotten (at least) and will give you fat trouble if you just start pulling with them in. I´ll try to post pics of the mess it was when i have a minute to understand the hosting thing *S*