1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Hi guys,
Have a restored standard recirculating heater for a ‘49 F-1. The truck had a heater it in that was directly in the center under the dash and very crudely installed. I see the knockouts for the fresh air heater next to the battery. That heater has vertical inlet and outlet. The standard has horizontal and that would put the hoses coming out over the battery? Also there are no knockouts anywhere that I can see for the standard heater. Can somebody tell me where the standard heater would have been installed? Last pic shows the vertical knockouts along the side of the battery. Any help appreciated as I can’t find any info or photos showing where this heater mounts.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...3&d=1756307208

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...4&d=1756307208

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...5&d=1756307208

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

I don't think that is the correct recirculating heater. I have an original 1949 Ford accessories catalog and the recirculating heater it shows is like the one pictured below.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...5&d=1756317806

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...6&d=1756317806

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

I assume the one in my 49 Mercury truck is original and as i remember it the heater is more to the right of centre. If I can remember I'll take a picture of the setup.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

That heater is the same as the onn in my 1952 F1. The 2 brass tubes go thru the firewall and the 3 bolts go thru the firewall as well and hold the heater to the cab side of the firewall. The heater core faces up. The brass tubes are to recirculate the hot coolant fluid. I have pictures-send a PM with your phone #-- and I will email. JR

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Ok got the pictures. I did not check for a name on it but Harrison was a big name in aftermarket heaters here back then. I've even got one labelled Firestone in the 39 Deluxe.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Thanks. I understand how it mounts but if I mount in the same area as a fresh air heater the tubes come right out on top of the battery. The fresh air heater has the tubes to the side of the battery. I have been told by numerous people that this is indeed for a ‘48-‘52. Do you have pics of where your is mounted?

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

From what I have been reading there was a Firestone that had the 3 doors and others that had three doors but they were older units. Then there was the one I have pictured above. I can mount it but I don’t like the idea of the hoses coming out directly above the battery. Seems like an odd spot to me.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

The pipes on the heater in post #3 come out on the left side just like the one in post#7. Here are a couple more pictures that may help.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Yeah I understand where the 3 door recirculating heaters and fresh air heaters come through as I believe they both have the vertical tubes that come out next to the battery. I guess my question is I have been told by numerous people that the style I posted in post 1 is indeed for the 49-52 truck. It was basically the cheapest heater you could get. The tubes come out horizontally though. Does anybody have a picture of a heater that looks like the one I posted installed in a truck?

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...7&d=1756320999

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...8&d=1756320999

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

While you have been clear that others have told you that yours is a 48-52 unit, that just doesn't make sense. The block style Ford came later - like mid 1950s - when the tailgate embossing changed from script style.

You may be trying to fit a 'newer' unit into an older truck and are having the difficulty you've described.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

There is one like yours on ebay, says 1953-56.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/29731047869...05956b96571878

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UH0AA...en8/s-l500.jpg
US $199.00
or Best Offer

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

You may be right. Even Brassworks has a pic on their website for a replacement heater core and it says standard 48-52. Kinda bummed I have been mislead by so many people.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Your heater is exactly like the one in my '52 F7 except my defrosted hoses are more of a 45 degree where yours look to be 90 degree. The other difference is that on the F 7 the battery is under the cab behind the rt running board. Interior box & Fotd letters are same.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...3&d=1756385682

https://external-content.duckduckgo....3c31748a6260ad
Ford 1948-1952 Standard Recirculating Heater Core

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Likely won't be much help but this is the page in my Canadian fast moving parts catalogue that shows the optional heaters available at the time. Part number 8C 18455A for the 48 and 49 trucks. Unfortunately no picture of it.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...7&d=1756405282

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Well that is interesting. Maybe this was a “big truck” only heater? You are right though, that is identical to what I have here. Makes sense that it would mount where the fresh air heater mounts with no battery blocking it.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

Jerry was nice enough to post a pic of his heater setup. As you can see the hoses come out directly above the battery like I expected. Hard to believe so many 48-52 trucks have this heater installed if it wasn’t an option.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...5&d=1756475417

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...6&d=1756475417

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

That looks really awkward for installing or removing the battery with the hoses right in the way.

Re: 1948-1952 truck recirculating heater location?
 

I 100% agree. That is why I wanted to start this thread to see if this heater is indeed for 48-52 and why it would have the hoses above the battery. I guess nobody will ever know if these are true 48-52. A lot have been installed in these trucks. Were they older trucks that somebody wanted a heater in? Were they original? Who knows.