'40 hot air heater

Uncle Bob

Uncle Bob

Well-known member
Okay '40 gurus, a little education please. So I figure the pictured unit is a hot air heater coming off the pass. side exhaust manifold, yes/no? Were these a factory or dealer option, or strictly aftermarket? I figure it must have some factory support since the blind port is stamped in the stock firewall. Are they any kind of effective or offer more promise than performance? Anything you can add will be appreciated.

I tried a search in the early v8 section alone and got a lot of hot water heater references (searching for "hot air heater", not a very selective search even in advanced) and found one fairly beat up unit in the swap section that's been for sale for over 2 years. Guessing not much demand for these?
 

Attachments

  • 40 hot air heater.jpg
    40 hot air heater.jpg
    48.1 KB · Views: 100
Ford offered two heaters in 1940. Hot water & Hot air. I have a Hot air unit in my 40 and it works very well and quick . The daw back for the hot air unit is to be sure the heat exchanger or stove , is free from leaks or you run the risk of carbon monoxide inside the car.
 
I like these heaters. They are not as common as the water type and well, kind of interesting. - to me anyway.
For maximum performance, the shroud at the radiator (top tank) and the flex hose that attaches it to the motor should be installed. These are often missing as Ford advised they be removed for summer driving. No doubt those pieces removed got tossed in the garage and forgotten about.

These were, as Ken mentioned, a factory authorized accessory. They were about $40 retail back in 1940 - sort of pricey considering a coupe was about $700.
Not only was the large "knock out" placed in the firewall but dimples that allowed the serviceman to quickly locate the proper place for the screws to hold brackets.
Mike "Kube" Kubarth
 
Mike, is the silencer on Uncle Bobs photo
a '39 or '40? The one's I've seen have the
banana style. Or, was it what ever was available
at the dealer?
Ken
 
I always shied away from those on my 40s and have hot water heaters. That flexible fabric piece looks like it has asbestos in it to me. Carbon monoxide plus asbestos--could be a problem but somehow we survived this stuff!
 
KGS said:
Mike, is the silencer on Uncle Bobs photo
a '39 or '40? The one's I've seen have the
banana style. Or, was it what ever was available
at the dealer?
Ken
Click to expand...

I think the banana shaped one is later 40. The 39 & early 40 is like the one pictured. I'm sure Kube will know for sure.
 
I believe the banana shaped is 39 into 40 and the one pictured is 40. Ford often used accessories from one year into the next, even radios. I am not sure if the hot air heater continued into 41?
 
KGS said:
Mike, is the silencer on Uncle Bobs photo
a '39 or '40? The one's I've seen have the
banana style. Or, was it what ever was available
at the dealer?
Ken
Click to expand...

Actually the one in the photo is 1939 and most of 1940. In very late 1940, NOVA redesigned the silencer and incorporated an integral elbow. That in effect, eliminated one piece to the assembly. I think this is the design folks are calling the "banana style". With that change there were a couple of minor changes to go along with it.
I am fairly certain this "new" design carried through 1941. However, I'd be inclined to hear from a '41 guy before you took my opinion as gospel.
 
deuce_roadster said:
I always shied away from those on my 40s and have hot water heaters. That flexible fabric piece looks like it has asbestos in it to me. Carbon monoxide plus asbestos--could be a problem but somehow we survived this stuff!
Click to expand...

I agree with you in that these probably are not the safest units. You are totally correct in that the hoses were primarily asbestos. That, plus some exhaust entering the passenger compartment, well, maybe you and I survived but who didn't???
 
Kube and Ken are correct. The round style pictured has a part number of 91A-18459 and is 39 style. The banana shaped silencer is 01A-18459 and a 40 part.
 
Kube said:
I agree with you in that these probably are not the safest units. You are totally correct in that the hoses were primarily asbestos. That, plus some exhaust entering the passenger compartment, well, maybe you and I survived but who didn't???
Click to expand...
Takes years to develop mesothelioma and by the time it's detected there is little time left. There is a growing number of us on death row from asbestos, takes me over 200mg of morphine to get through the day now. Enjoy your Fords and good health while you can, Fordbarners!
 
You guys did it again, thanks.
Any of you have pics of the radiator shroud portion, I've not seen that. I suspect Kube is correct about the removal for summer and then forgotten.
 
Uncle Bob said:
You guys did it again, thanks.
Any of you have pics of the radiator shroud portion, I've not seen that. I suspect Kube is correct about the removal for summer and then forgotten.
Click to expand...

This is it. This one is missing 1/2 of the clamps that clamps to the upper rad hoses.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    23.8 KB · Views: 49
Thanks Ken, looks like it would hang under the upper hoses, so it captures heat from bottom of upper tank and upper core.
 
Uncle Bob said:
Thanks Ken, looks like it would hang under the upper hoses, so it captures heat from bottom of upper tank and upper core.
Click to expand...

How's this?
The authentic hose was cloth covered wire.
 

Attachments

  • heater install 2.jpg
    heater install 2.jpg
    66 KB · Views: 80
Mike I have pallets of NOS hot air heater parts. I can get you photos of anything you might need. Most I have not identified yet
 
Okay, now I realize I may be "pushing it" a bit, but could one of you guys please get a photo of that part kind of close up with no clutter around it? I'd like to include this in the book I am working on.
In advance, THANK YOU!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top