AutoLite heater install
 

Hi everyone. I just purchased my first A in December. She arrived Christmas day and the learning curve has been steep. I've been lurking here daily since then and have found answers to almost all of my newbie questions. Was hoping for some help with this:

I just picked up a repro autolite heater shroud from Brattons since the car came with the manifold. Does anyone have pictures of the correct way to connect the shroud to the flange on the firewall? I can make it work easy enough but am hoping to find out what materials, clamps, etc would be period correct.

Thanks

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

I don’t think there is any official way. I don’t connect mine to the heater door in the firewall. I have found it adds one more rattle. Others use a piece of radiator hose to fill the gap, but I haven’t found that necessary. Winters are pretty mild in Portland.
I do remove the cover in the summer.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

Yes. the Autolite cover will work without hoses, brackets. etc. We get lots of heat just mounting on the manifold and leaving a bit of gap between the firewall and heater. So long as it lines up with the hole in your firewall, it will work. Like 700 says, one less rattle.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

Model A Manifold Heater Connection
https://youtu.be/aUEdiPasUIY

This is how I did it. Easy and works well.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

I hooked up my heater using aluminum heater tape. Most Home depot type carry it. adheres good and no rattles

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

I just leave a gap but my friend did this procedure and it is better, more heat and less rattle.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

Thanks for the replies. I just realized the existing hole through the firewall is 2 inches too low. Now the challenge is going to be how to make THAT work. I really don't want to cut a 2nd hole in the firewall. Nothing is ever easy on these old cars is it?

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

This is what I have to work with...

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

Looks like you'll have to fabricate an offset/periscope duct like they make for clothes dryers.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

If you have a original Autolite waffle exhaust manifold, I would look on-line for the original cover for it. It will lineup better with the hole in the firewall.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

If you have an original rounded manifold setup that cover should set down lower on the exhaust manifold. Something isn’t right. Can you post a picture of your manifolds w/o the cover, and a picture of both sides of the cover?

If, however, you have what Al in NY describes, his advice is correct. You’ll never make the cover you have work with a waffled manifold.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

I have had Otwell heaters since 1962. Recently I tried to fit an Autolite waffle manifold and found same same problem.

The original Autolite cover for the waffle heater locates the hole in same place as in your photo.

Looks like from the photo that the hole that you have might be for an OTWELL heater.

Look inside the car at the deflector on the inlet housing ... If it is OTWELL it will say so on the deflector.

But then again you could have an inlet housing from a different heater!!

There are about 5 or 6 different makers (not counting the various REPROs) of heaters and each of them have the firewall hole in a different place.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

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Re: AutoLite heater install
 

Looks like an Otwell hole location. You can tell by factory D nut.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

I will try to take pictures of the waffle manifold tomorrow and post them. I assumed since the bolt pattern was exact that it was an Autolite.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

I'll have to agree with Benson and Taffrail. That's not the correct firewall opening for a Autolite Waffle Heater. Here is a photo of my Autolite, your hole is definitely in the wrong location.

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

It looks like my Ottwell heater outlet ! The connection has a bend in it to follow the toe board angle

Ottwell manifolds come up for sale here in the swap meet area!

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

I cut both ends out of a bean can, split it lengthwise, rolled it up tight enough to slip through the firewall door and into the heater opening. When I released the tension it expanded perfectly and is nearly non noticeable. Might be kind of a farmer fix but it worked great

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

Thanks for the replies everyone. Here is a picture of the manifold before I installed the repro Autolite cover. What brand is it? Did I buy the wrong cover?

Re: AutoLite heater install
 

That is a genuine Autolite waffle manifold. Here is a picture of the cover that should be used with it (captured off of ebay). The item number for it is:284140039821.