just to add substantiation to the posts re: covering the grill... here's what i do in the tundra up here, apologies to the old timers that recall this thread last year. 1. a BIG o' piece of cardboard in front of the lower and upper grills. this does several things: a) reduces the 'passive' air infiltration rate in the (very) cold air intake. this allows the heater core to bring the output air temp higher, albiet at a lower total volume. it IS warmer inside, however. b) covers the radiator so that the thermostat sends more coolant up front to be cooled. since the heater hoses run parallel with the main coolant hoses, they stay warmer. c) marks your vehicle as a 'local' so that marauding highway predators don't bother you. :) (always worked so far) 2. boil out the heater core if you've never done it to the vehicle. this has made a dramatic difference in both the '85 and '87 i've had. not wanting to run the cleaning acids thru the questionable heads i disconnect the heater hoses and circulate boiling radiator cleaner thru the heater core only with a Rube Goldberg conglomeration of circulating pumps, boiling kegs, and a propane burner. it works. 3. add a booster pump to the heater loop. i did this in the '85 but not in the '87. i used a Par-Jabsco unit but the seal always weeped a little anti-freeze (irrascable stuff). Mercedes uses a similar setup so one could scavenge a pump from a higher end Mercedes. In fact, if someone has one laying around, i will buy it. with the pump in the heater loop, i could sit at idle and recieve full heater output. it was great. 4. don't run with the heater *air* levers wide open at highway speed. the heater core is easily 'over-run' with cold air. 5. ensure your anti-freeze mixture does not exceed 60% ethylene glycol. heater transfer efficiency is reduced with e.g. proportions above that. 6. if all the above fails, drive a Dodge minivan! (sorry for the blasphemy but i'm jealous of our friends' heat in their vans) -dan
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