Southwind

[big job]

Anyone using Southwind heater? I had one in 1955 vw and was outstanding.

[Terry,OH]

Had one on my 40 years ago. It would warm the car and defrost the windows in quick order, long before the coolant had a chance to warm up.

[jimTN]

I have four of them in use on my cars.

[bobH]

I have one in a 41 pickup.... not hooked up. I need 'education'....

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by bobH

I have one in a 41 pickup.... not hooked up. I need 'education'....

See > https://www.ebay.com/itm/26663347319...ipeNm&LH_BIN=1
For Service Manual


And > https://www.ebay.com/itm/32529748453...qXjZg&LH_BIN=1

[GB SISSON]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by big job

Anyone using Southwind heater? I had one in 1955 vw and was outstanding.

A warm brick inside of a sock would have been outstanding heat for a '55 bug in Massachusetts in the winter. That Southwind must have been like dying and going straight to heaven. A Seattle native, my folks moved us to Massachusetts when I was 14. At 16 bought a 1960 bug and I still remember pushing our frozen fingers into the defroster slots and trying to convince ourselves that we were starting to feel some heat coming out. At 21 I returned to Wa, but honestly retain much affection for Massachusetts. I have a Southwind in a parts truck if you want it.

[cas3]

My Dad had a 64 bug with a gas heater, that thing could cook you rite out!

I've had several South winds over the years, but never one working. Back when I was trying to figger out some heat in my 34 coupe I did some research on the South Winds.

What I found is , most folks think its a bomb, gonna blow up and kill all woman and children on board...not gonna happen! then, many like the art deco look and convert it to hot water, and some make it into a speaker box.

At that time, there was a Canadian guy who seemed to be the king of South Winds, had all the worlds NOS parts, and restored them. I forget, but some googling would find him.

I opted for an old art deco hot water job

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by cas3

My Dad had a 64 bug with a gas heater, that thing could cook you rite out!

I've had several South winds over the years, but never one working. Back when I was trying to figger out some heat in my 34 coupe I did some research on the South Winds.

What I found is , most folks think its a bomb, gonna blow up and kill all woman and children on board...not gonna happen! then, many like the art deco look and convert it to hot water, and some make it into a speaker box.

At that time, there was a Canadian guy who seemed to be the king of South Winds, had all the worlds NOS parts, and restored them. I forget, but some googling would find him.

I opted for an old art deco hot water job

[big job]

I too had one in VW bus no way to get heat with out it. The reason why i posted this is because my 46 i use every day has a sever carb icing problem. So I think the vacuum line sucks burner heat into the SW carb base plate thus heating the cast iron throttle plate. Isn't this logical? My big problem is bench test. My question ? I will put the heater on fender run the vacuum line to windshield wiper port and stick the little gas tube in a water bottle of gas and fire it up Because you have to drill a hole in the carb for gas Don't want to drill this yet .I think this will work do you :



Also I am using a lot of gas running a 1/2 hour till the ice melts each day until spring time. OR break out the propane torch lol thanks sam

[leon bee]

What kind of mileage you put on that car?

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by leon bee

What kind of mileage you put on that car?

And how rusty is it? I recall an abundance of road salt.

[big job]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

And how rusty is it? I recall an abundance of road salt.

To Leon and GB hard to tell millage coffee runs O'rielys Napa hardware runs Already 10.000 on new engine only rust is running boards just the tin easy fix some day, and original bad paint but we finished roof hood and trunk and trunk is still factory black perfect as well as underneath thats about it. This car never had a heater so I put a 3 door i had but can't cut it. I have a F8 337 V8 6 volt that heater will melt ya boots off >thats the ticket. Not going to take out the water heater but make a bracket for the gas heater just next to the 3 door don't want more holes in firewall. There is no global warming in Massachusetts or maybe its my old bones..lol sam

[solidaxle]

How safe are the S.W. heaters?
What do you need to keep an eye on to maintain safety?

[rotorwrench]

Corvairs vehicles also used a combustion heater. They are reliable enough but I would still recommend using a carbon monoxide detection patch somewhere in the vehicle. The VW and Corvair units were different than the ones used back in the day. Southwinds made the domestic units but the German cars used a German made heater from Eberspacher. Aircraft also used combustion heaters. The old DC-3 that Ricky Nelson had used one and it leaked & caught fire. That was about as bad a failure as it gets.

[hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by solidaxle

How safe are the S.W. heaters?
What do you need to keep an eye on to maintain safety?

They are very safe, if CORRECTLY installed. The manufacturer was never successfully sued in court. There were cars that caught fire, but it was always due to faulty installation.
Tom

[big job]

Originally Posted by hotcoupe

They are very safe, if CORRECTLY installed. The manufacturer was never successfully sued in court. There were cars that caught fire, but it was always due to faulty installation.
Tom

this is a 781 the common one they have a bimetal plunger that when gets too hot or possible flooding this valve closes the vacuum & fuel fan still runs until cools down via bimetal switch.. pretty fool proof.

[leon bee]

Big job inspired me, realized I hadn't driven my 50 for a while. Gonna drive it on my 20 daily miles all week.

Got my Magic Aire heater working good, too.