The Ford Barn

billybronco1 · 10-09-2014, 06:57 PM

If they had manifold heaters in 1931 I doubt they were made of cast aluminum. I really don't like the look. I saw one guy painted his the ford engine green, I was wondering what you thought of that or maybe even black. But the aluminum just does not look right.

Gary Gregory · 10-09-2014, 07:01 PM

Doubt you could get paint to stick well on aluminum with all that heat.

Gary Gregory · 10-09-2014, 07:03 PM

You could use BB-Q grill flat black paint...works well with heat.

Wick · 10-09-2014, 07:15 PM

I used High temp black. Painted letters Red!

billybronco1 · 10-09-2014, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wick

I used High temp black. Painted letters Red!

Hey I bet that looks cool, is it flat or gloss black? How is it holding up to the heat, any special prep? can you post a pic?

glenn in camino · 10-09-2014, 07:26 PM

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I don't like manifold heaters because they make it difficult to work on the distributor.

glenn in camino · 10-09-2014, 07:28 PM

They make it difficult to work on the distributor.

mass A man · 10-09-2014, 08:14 PM

Yes, If you plan on having an Otwell manifold heater, one can't access the distributor lock screw. On the other hand the Autolite manifold has a hole in the casting just opposite the screw for dist. The finish on the top cast iron Autolite cover was silver originally, I know it doesn't go with Ford engine green. Or any other color for that.

bart78 · 10-09-2014, 08:35 PM

To get paint to stick. Wipe it down with vinager. It will etch it enough to stick.

Mitch//pa · 10-09-2014, 09:08 PM

get it high temp powdercoated

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-09-2014, 09:11 PM

Well, BB, If you don't like it, just remove it forever & dress for the COLD!
Bill W.

ian Simpson · 10-09-2014, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billybronco1

If they had manifold heaters in 1931 I doubt they were made of cast aluminum. I really don't like the look. I saw one guy painted his the ford engine green, I was wondering what you thought of that or maybe even black. But the aluminum just does not look right.

When you live way down south in Boston, why do you need a heater?

DougVieyra · 10-10-2014, 02:00 AM

The heater cover WAS made during the Model A time frame. However it was cast iron, not aluminim. Like the modern day aluminum reproductions, it went on and off easily and quickly, both for summer driving, and for accessing the distributor.

Mass A Man: The Otwell Health Heater at first (1928-29) came with a straight top and did not allow for access to the distrubitor. A major design flaw. This was corrected however, in the later amended model (for 1930 & '31) that had a dip in the middle of the top, to allow for access to the distributor.

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-10-2014, 10:41 AM

I remember Chief sometimes replaced distributor parts, with the distributor IN PLACE. "Maybe" it was stuck?? Everything, except the bushings, can be diagnosed or replaced with the dist. IN the engine.
Bill W.

ModAfan · 10-10-2014, 02:14 PM

"When you live way down south in Boston, why do you need a heater?"

Because of the Montreal Express.

billybronco1 · 10-10-2014, 02:25 PM

It gets cold down here too but it came with the car. If there was no hole through the fire wall I probably would leave it off. I decided to paint it black and modify how it is mounted so it does not look so bad. It does work and it is a conversation item.

Gary Gregory · 10-10-2014, 02:32 PM

The one i have has...SNYDERS INC. PHILA. PA. its cast not alum. ...sits nicely on manafold...i use 2 wires to hold it in place...easy to remove.

mass A man · 10-10-2014, 03:44 PM

By Jove Doug! (in Eureka,Ca.), You're correct! I dug out a few heater manifolds I have and found one with the "dip" in the middle. I'm used to seeing the flat across Otwell's. Shown a picture of the dippy manifold.--Pete.

Purdy Swoft · 10-10-2014, 04:21 PM

Yes, I also have one of the Otwell health heaters like Doug mentioned and the one pictured above. It was on a 31 tudor that I drove in the mid 60s . I haven't used it in nearly 50 years. It doesn't get that cold here. I don't like any manifold heater. They make the car TOO hot inside and put too much heat on the distributor.

DougVieyra · 10-11-2014, 01:33 AM

Purdy - When the "Otwell Health Heater" people redesigned their heater (with the dip in the middle of the top), they also added a 'Heat Escape' door at the rear of the top, to allow heat to escape out into the engine compartment and NOT go into the interior of the cab. When the heater door to the firewall was closed and the connecting pipe from the heater to the firewall was removed for summer driving, this worked very well to prevent heat from entering the cab.

Also, on the new 'Improved' models with the 'dip' in the middle of the top (to allow access to the distributor), the dip creates a comfortable air space between the heater top and the distributor condensor. This increases the life expectance of the condensor - especially if an A&L 'heat proof' condensor is used.

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif
Western Sales Division, Othwell Health Heaters, Inc.

10-09-2014, 07:01 PM	#2
Gary Gregory Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Maryville,Tn Posts: 302	Re: Manifold header is ugly Doubt you could get paint to stick well on aluminum with all that heat.

10-09-2014, 07:03 PM	#3
Gary Gregory Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Maryville,Tn Posts: 302	Re: Manifold header is ugly You could use BB-Q grill flat black paint...works well with heat.

10-09-2014, 07:15 PM	#4
Wick Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gwynn's Island Va Posts: 1,390	Re: Manifold header is ugly I used High temp black. Painted letters Red!

10-09-2014, 07:26 PM	#6
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Manifold header is ugly Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I don't like manifold heaters because they make it difficult to work on the distributor.

10-09-2014, 07:28 PM	#7
glenn in camino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camino, CA. Posts: 3,086	Re: Manifold header is ugly They make it difficult to work on the distributor.

10-09-2014, 08:14 PM	#8
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 712	Re: Manifold header is ugly Yes, If you plan on having an Otwell manifold heater, one can't access the distributor lock screw. On the other hand the Autolite manifold has a hole in the casting just opposite the screw for dist. The finish on the top cast iron Autolite cover was silver originally, I know it doesn't go with Ford engine green. Or any other color for that.

10-09-2014, 08:35 PM	#9
bart78 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stephenville tx Posts: 1,019	Re: Manifold header is ugly To get paint to stick. Wipe it down with vinager. It will etch it enough to stick.

10-09-2014, 09:08 PM	#10
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Manifold header is ugly get it high temp powdercoated

10-09-2014, 09:11 PM	#11
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Manifold header is ugly Well, BB, If you don't like it, just remove it forever & dress for the COLD! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-10-2014, 02:00 AM	#13
DougVieyra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Eureka, California Posts: 1,716	Re: Manifold header is ugly The heater cover WAS made during the Model A time frame. However it was cast iron, not aluminim. Like the modern day aluminum reproductions, it went on and off easily and quickly, both for summer driving, and for accessing the distributor. Mass A Man: The Otwell Health Heater at first (1928-29) came with a straight top and did not allow for access to the distrubitor. A major design flaw. This was corrected however, in the later amended model (for 1930 & '31) that had a dip in the middle of the top, to allow for access to the distributor. - Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif

10-10-2014, 10:41 AM	#14
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Manifold header is ugly I remember Chief sometimes replaced distributor parts, with the distributor IN PLACE. "Maybe" it was stuck?? Everything, except the bushings, can be diagnosed or replaced with the dist. IN the engine. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-10-2014, 02:14 PM	#15
ModAfan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Near Boston Posts: 135	Re: Manifold header is ugly "When you live way down south in Boston, why do you need a heater?" Because of the Montreal Express.

10-10-2014, 02:25 PM	#16
billybronco1 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: MA Posts: 570	Re: Manifold header is ugly It gets cold down here too but it came with the car. If there was no hole through the fire wall I probably would leave it off. I decided to paint it black and modify how it is mounted so it does not look so bad. It does work and it is a conversation item.

10-10-2014, 02:32 PM	#17
Gary Gregory Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Maryville,Tn Posts: 302	Re: Manifold header is ugly The one i have has...SNYDERS INC. PHILA. PA. its cast not alum. ...sits nicely on manafold...i use 2 wires to hold it in place...easy to remove.

10-10-2014, 03:44 PM	#18
mass A man Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Danvers, Ma. Posts: 712	Re: Manifold header is ugly By Jove Doug! (in Eureka,Ca.), You're correct! I dug out a few heater manifolds I have and found one with the "dip" in the middle. I'm used to seeing the flat across Otwell's. Shown a picture of the dippy manifold.--Pete. Last edited by mass A man; 08-15-2022 at 03:52 PM.

10-10-2014, 04:21 PM	#19
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: Manifold header is ugly Yes, I also have one of the Otwell health heaters like Doug mentioned and the one pictured above. It was on a 31 tudor that I drove in the mid 60s . I haven't used it in nearly 50 years. It doesn't get that cold here. I don't like any manifold heater. They make the car TOO hot inside and put too much heat on the distributor.

10-11-2014, 01:33 AM	#20
DougVieyra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Eureka, California Posts: 1,716	Re: Manifold header is ugly Purdy - When the "Otwell Health Heater" people redesigned their heater (with the dip in the middle of the top), they also added a 'Heat Escape' door at the rear of the top, to allow heat to escape out into the engine compartment and NOT go into the interior of the cab. When the heater door to the firewall was closed and the connecting pipe from the heater to the firewall was removed for summer driving, this worked very well to prevent heat from entering the cab. Also, on the new 'Improved' models with the 'dip' in the middle of the top (to allow access to the distributor), the dip creates a comfortable air space between the heater top and the distributor condensor. This increases the life expectance of the condensor - especially if an A&L 'heat proof' condensor is used. - Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif Western Sales Division, Othwell Health Heaters, Inc.