Best Type of Heater to Install

[VCS2]

Hi,
Have been planning all the things for my car while I start my rebuild/restoration, and the wife is insisting on a heater being installed! I live in southern california where cold and weather is not a big deal, but late night runs to the local Bob's Big Boy can get a lil nippy.

I am building a traditional 1940's style 29 roadster with V8-60 flathead. Just wanted to inquire what the best setup to with? Vintage out of another car of the era? Aftermarket?

As you all know, looks and space consideration are a comcern.However an effcient, safe and reliable setup for a heater is the most important.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

I would think that an Autolite bolt on hot air heater would be quite adequate in Cal.
It would require a hole in the firewall and the proper exhaust manifold. I hve one in my coupe and it is fine in New England as long as the tmp is over 25 deg. F.

[Blessyouboys]

Originally Posted by Barry B./ Ma.

I would think that an Autolite bolt on hot air heater would be quite adequate in Cal.
It would require a hole in the firewall and the proper exhaust manifold. I hve one in my coupe and it is fine in New England as long as the tmp is over 25 deg. F.

I didn't know there are Autolite heaters for a V8 flathead.

Do you have a picture of one?

[miss victoria]

Ialso live in california, have installed a heat and air cond. kit that i made up. warm in the winter and cool in the summer!! p.s dont have a wife but it keeps me happy.

[John LaVoy]

I'm not sure the manifold heaters will work on the V-8 Snyder's offers a heater that mounts on the firewall that uses water from the radiator and an electric fan. You should be able to adapt that to work. We actually put heated seats into the sedan and didn't install any heater.

[fordfixer]

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They have aftermarket water heaters that work just fine.

[Fred K-OR]

Barry or Gar-Do either of you have a picture of your manifold? I had a "heater" type manifold on my coupe when I purchased it and I am trying to identify what brand of heater it is and what type of cover I need for it.

Thanks

[CHuDWah]

There are manifold heaters for flatheads but the ones I've seen are complicated and ugly - plus manifold heaters are hard to regulate. Aftermarket places like Vintage Air sell compact hot water heaters but they're just black boxes. There usually are some vintage ones on ebay - they're just a small radiator with an electric fan but they usually have a cool art deco cover. They're mostly six volt but a twelve volt motor can be adapted with a little ingenuity. They can be recored but of course it's cheaper to get one with a good core. Otherwise, just refinish the cover as necessary. You can buy new rotary switches that look old-timey and allow you to vary fan speed - it also helps to put a shutoff valve in the water line.

For example, this one's currently on ebay - even looks like a Model A radiator:

[PeterC]

I like the original 39-40 Ford hot water heaters - very functional and a nice classic 40's look.

[Al Bass]

this is my HaDees heater in the 31 tudor

[Aerocraft]

Sorry, I missed the fact that the application was for a V-8-60. I did have an accessory manifold heater for my V-8 '34 Fordor but recycled it due to poor condition and the concern that I could not inspect it well enough to insure that I would not be breathing exhaust gas. I prefer hot water heaters for the early V-8s. There are many to pick from.

To answer the question for a picture of the Model A Autolite, it is below. It has been my experience that there must be at least three different patterns used for casting the exhaust manifolds. The varience is in the depth of the fins. The deeper the fins, the more heat transfer. Gar Williams

[silvertop]

I would think finding a 40's style heater small enough to fit into a roadster and still allow your wife good leg room will be your biggest challenge. Once you have done that, make it safe and reliable.

I have not seen any of the aftermarket heaters, being sold lately, that would meet your criteria.

[Rainmaker Ron]

I built a custom under the seat heater for a friend of mine. I selected an oil cooler that would fit the space available from a J.C. Whitney catalog. Radio Shack sells a variety of 6 or 12 volt fans. From there it is a piece of cake.
Rainmaker Ron

[mass A man]

I'm running both, an Autolite "bolt-on" manifold heater in pick up and an OTWELL manifold heater on the Town sedan. Only draw-back is with those type, you should have an aftermarket oil filler pipe "blow-by tube" also. Without one, I noticed some smoke in cab. I feel the hot water type are good, but they can make pulling front floor board out a hassle. Since we're on the topic, please forgive me for asking my question here on VCS2's thread, but what the heck are the 2 little holes for on the front end air intake of all the Autolite bolt on castings? Some kind of screen or cover?? I've never seen one but the holes are always there.

[gpits68]

i am building a 29 open cab ,basically stock looking,but plan on converting to 12 volt and making my own seats,being heated seats.gotta keep the wife warm.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by mass A man

I'm running both, an Autolite "bolt-on" manifold heater in pick up and an OTWELL manifold heater on the Town sedan. Only draw-back is with those type, you should have an aftermarket oil filler pipe "blow-by tube" also. Without one, I noticed some smoke in cab. I feel the hot water type are good, but they can make pulling front floor board out a hassle. Since we're on the topic, please forgive me for asking my question here on VCS2's thread, but what the heck are the 2 little holes for on the front end air intake of all the Autolite bolt on castings? Some kind of screen or cover?? I've never seen one but the holes are always there.

Sometimes a large square funnel was added to the front of the manifold heater to capture more air. I bought one just for show & tell.

[VCS2]

Wow! So many options and great information. I am actually using allot of 40 Ford parts in the car, without knowing the specifics, do you all think I could adapt something from the 40 sedanheater to a model A?

[Tom Wesenberg]

I would do something like Rainmaker Ron did. I'd use any heater core from a junkyard and make my own box for it and mount it under the floor, then send the heat up through a floor grate. This way no interior room is used up.

[steve s]

Originally Posted by VCS2

Wow! So many options and great information. I am actually using allot of 40 Ford parts in the car, without knowing the specifics, do you all think I could adapt something from the 40 sedanheater to a model A?

Adapting's the name of the game. Here's some pics of what I've been using. Painted it up to match interior. Removing floor boards is little trouble. Had to bend the fuel shutoff valve handle a bit. Found it in an old truck in a junk yard, back in the days when you could just wander around in junk yards--suggest you try the same if there are still such places in your area.

[Charlie Stephens]

Nice period heaters used to show up at swap meets frequently (even in California). I must admit I haven't looked recently. Are you going to catch the Big Three swap meet in February in San Diego?

Charlie Stephens

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Can South Wind gas heaters still be found? The one in my '41 convert was very comfortable & reasonably small and easy hookup.--Bill W.

[columbiA]

You live in SO-CAL & you need a heater? Give me a brake! LOL.Seriously,I think Rainmaker Rons or Tom W,s idea for a heater is the best.As for putting a V8-60 in a model A,I think you would likely have a stock A running on 3 cyls pass you on the hills! A V8-60 only has about 90 ft lbs torque & a stock A engine has much more than that.

[dfish2931nc]

I bought a heater off ebay for $45. Cleaned and painted it. It went on the inside firewall without much work. Used a toggle switch to run blower. It gets warm in the car and is above the foot area of the floorboard.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by Barry B./ Ma.

I would think that an Autolite bolt on hot air heater would be quite adequate in Cal.
It would require a hole in the firewall and the proper exhaust manifold. I hve one in my coupe and it is fine in New England as long as the tmp is over 25 deg. F.

Sorry, my mistake, I was thinking Model A four banger. In your case I think I'd install an aftermarket hot water heater. The Hadees heater they made in the day is fairly narrow and fits nicely. I bought one in a flea market and had it in a 30 coupe, it worked well and didn't take up[ too much space.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

Barry or Gar-Do either of you have a picture of your manifold? I had a "heater" type manifold on my coupe when I purchased it and I am trying to identify what brand of heater it is and what type of cover I need for it.

Thanks

Fred, I don't have a picture of it but it has side fins and two tapped holes on top to mount the Autolite cast cover. I've seen some at flea markets.

[buyitsmart]

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Originally Posted by John LaVoy

I'm not sure the manifold heaters will work on the V-8 Snyder's offers a heater that mounts on the firewall that uses water from the radiator and an electric fan. You should be able to adapt that to work. We actually put heated seats into the sedan and didn't install any heater.

John, Where do you get heated seats? Is it something that any upholstery shop can do? Does LB offer a heated seat upholstery package???
Really interested in that modification. Sounds like a good solution without having to add a bulky heater. I have a 12v conversion so I'm hoping to do that to my 31 coupe.

[buyitsmart]

Originally Posted by dfish2931nc

I bought a heater off ebay for $45. Cleaned and painted it. It went on the inside firewall without much work. Used a toggle switch to run blower. It gets warm in the car and is above the foot area of the floorboard.

dfish, got any pics of the heater? Are you running 12v?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by buyitsmart

John, Where do you get heated seats? Is it something that any upholstery shop can do? Does LB offer a heated seat upholstery package???
Really interested in that modification. Sounds like a good solution without having to add a bulky heater. I have a 12v conversion so I'm hoping to do that to my 31 coupe.

My friend's Honda has heated seats and they take quite a long time before I can feel any heat. That makes them useless on trips of less than 15 miles.

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by buyitsmart

John, Where do you get heated seats? Is it something that any upholstery shop can do? Does LB offer a heated seat upholstery package???
Really interested in that modification. Sounds like a good solution without having to add a bulky heater. I have a 12v conversion so I'm hoping to do that to my 31 coupe.

Electric heated seats take a lot of amps. It is not really the way to go in a Model A. Hot water heat is quite easy to do. If you don't like the unit on the firewall, put a small heater/fan under the front seat. Have it blow hot air out at your feet. Some of it will be trapped under the seat and serve as seat warmers.

[silvertop]

There is a manifold heater listed on Ebay now, if you are interested #120818213860.

[V4F]

i had my heater for like 10 yrs . used to live in the high desert (+20= -20) . the little 7" square works just fine . vintage ford & other vendors sell them . comes with a template for mounting on fire wall .................... steve

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by Barry B./ Ma.

Fred, I don't have a picture of it but it has side fins and two tapped holes on top to mount the Autolite cast cover. I've seen some at flea markets.

Thanks Barry. The one I have has two tapped holes on top with the fins. So I will have to check further as to what make it is and what "cap" thing will fit on top of it.

[dfish2931nc]

I'll take a picture of the heater in the morning.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by Fred K-OR

Thanks Barry. The one I have has two tapped holes on top with the fins. So I will have to check further as to what make it is and what "cap" thing will fit on top of it.

Fred I'll go out in the morning and take a measurement between the bolt holes on the Autolite cover and post. Barry

The mounting bolt spacing on my Autolite cover is 7". Yours look wider.

[buyitsmart]

Originally Posted by steve norcal

i had my heater for like 10 yrs . used to live in the high desert (+20= -20) . the little 7" square works just fine . vintage ford & other vendors sell them . comes with a template for mounting on fire wall .................... steve

Steve, what does your heater look like? Is it a hot water heater?

[Chris Haynes]

I live in Los Angeles and we do get freezing weather here in the winter time. The mountains around Los Angeles get covered in snow. Rain today but supposed to be sunny for the next week.

[James Rogers]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Can South Wind gas heaters still be found? The one in my '41 convert was very comfortable & reasonably small and easy hookup.--Bill W.

I have one I bought at Hershey a few years ago so, they are still available. I also have a complete instruction manual for the southwinds.

[James Rogers]

Originally Posted by columbiA

You live in SO-CAL & you need a heater? Give me a brake! LOL.Seriously,I think Rainmaker Rons or Tom W,s idea for a heater is the best.As for putting a V8-60 in a model A,I think you would likely have a stock A running on 3 cyls pass you on the hills! A V8-60 only has about 90 ft lbs torque & a stock A engine has much more than that.

And weighs more than twice as much.

[Aerocraft]

An enthusiast in our area installed a V-8 60 in his Model A closed cab pickup. Looks cute but is very underpowered. Last I knew, he was looking for a rear axle ratio beyond 4:11. I have a number of South Winds. PM if interested. Gar Williams

[Ed in Maine]

I could use a heater here in Maine for those fall and early winter tours but I could never bring myself to start boring holes in the firewall. Over the years I have spent too much time welding up all the holes that were drilled by others. Has anyone seen a hot water heater installation where the hoses came through the upper floor board which could be easily replaced? Ed

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by Barry B./ Ma.

Fred I'll go out in the morning and take a measurement between the bolt holes on the Autolite cover and post. Barry

The mounting bolt spacing on my Autolite cover is 7". Yours look wider.

Barry, you are correct. My bolts measure 10 1/2 inches apart.

Fred K

[msmaron]

One of the best made!!! "The Director"

[mass A man]

Now THAT'S a wild heater. Similar to the "Otwell" but much fancier and with the two air intakes, you must have icicles hanging from the muffler!

[msmaron]

Originally Posted by mass A man

Now THAT'S a wild heater. Similar to the "Otwell" but much fancier and with the two air intakes, you must have icicles hanging from the muffler!

Yes some wild heater, i have yet to install it and wonder if i should