Auxillary Heat

Del in NE Ohio

Del in NE Ohio

Senior Member
I have a '31 CCPU that is 12V that I TRY to drive most every day. This recent winter blast has shown me that my blanket and gloves have limitations. I was looking at a 300W 12 Volt ceramic heater that wasn't very big and might help heat that small space. I'm not talking about one of those units that plug into a 12V outlet. This one has to be wired direct to battery. Any Fordbarners have any experience with such a heater?
 
Save you money and buy a hot water heater.
Those electric heaters will drain your battery and not put out near the heat of a hot water heater.
 
I agree with Tom 100%. Find a period correct hot water heater or worst case go to one of the "hot rod" hot water heaters. You didn't say anything about the rest of your electrical system but if you have a stock water pump you will ruin the bearings trying to make the fan belt tight enough to produce enough amps for the heather.

Charlie Stephens
 
FWIW:

Snyder's has 12V heaters for $150.00, ($215.00 6 V), w/$35.00 hose kit to connect to radiator coolant, very similar to efficient modern car heat.

Maybe just think & tell you wife or girl friend to look at it this way:

1. Divide the vehicle heater total price by the number of cold winter days per year.

2. Then one finds this choice is cheaper than stopping in at MacDonald's twice a day for two (2) hot cups of coffee -- plus you know you cannot pass up the MacDonald sweets -- even more expensive if you have a passenger in your Model A.

3. Then, as far as positive & sound "financial" & "medical" results, not only is this a good deal to "save" money, but you can also "lose" weight "especially during the Holidays by "not" stopping at MacDonald's twice a day for "sweets" to go with your hot coffee in freezing weather.

Hope this helps. Life should never be too serious. LOL
 
One trip on a cold day with your wife in the passenger seat is all the excuse you will ever need.




(Worked for me anyway!)
 
I have considered the hot water heat, just didn't want to drill the holes in the firewall for hose connections and unit mounting.

In this part of Ohio we have 4 distinct seasons! June, July, August, and WINTER!
 
Del in NE Ohio said:
I have considered the hot water heat, just didn't want to drill the holes in the firewall for hose connections and unit mounting.

In this part of Ohio we have 4 distinct seasons! June, July, August, and WINTER!
Click to expand...
I ran my hoses thru the wooden floorboards.
 
Run the hoses through the floorboard close to the firewall with a shut off valve to control the heat.

Carl- you beat me to it !
 
FWIW:

Some fear altering "originality" of Model A's; however, if this makes you feel more comfortable ..... "if" you have "original" floor boards that you want to stay original:

1. Buy a piece of same thickness plywood.

2. Remove the front floor board to use as a pattern for marking & cutting the new floor board plywood.

3. Drill heater hose holes in "new" plywood. (If holes appear not to have been drilled in the best place -- no sweat -- get another piece of "new" plywood & drill properly positioned hose holes.

4. Store your "original" front plywood.

5. If you retire & decide to move to Miami where a heater is not needed -- then you can re-install your "original" floor board & sell your Model A heater on e-bay.

Nothing to it.
 
I like the idea of not running hose nipples through the firewall. Is you heater not mounted to the firewall? Would love to see a photo!
 
I got a nice heater core from the junk yard for $5 and will keep the core under the floorboards and run the heat through a grate in the wood.

If you think you need to justify the price of a heater, just think of the cost of going to the dentist. I was in the dentist chair from 3:30 to 7:30 two days ago. Those 4 hours cost me $5,000, and I have no insurance, so it's all out of my own pocket. Now look how cheap it is to own and operate the Model A.
 
Us old farts are way more expensive to maintain than our Model A's are. Even with Insurance, my last dentist bill was right at $1K.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
I got a nice heater core from the junk yard for $5 and will keep the core under the floorboards and run the heat through a grate in the wood.

If you think you need to justify the price of a heater, just think of the cost of going to the dentist. I was in the dentist chair from 3:30 to 7:30 two days ago. Those 4 hours cost me $5,000, and I have no insurance, so it's all out of my own pocket. Now look how cheap it is to own and operate the Model A.
Click to expand...

Tom What does it cost to see your Doctor ? -Karl
 
I was thinking of using the seat heaters from speedway that go under the upholstery on seat. I am using a 12 volt system with alternator. If anyone has used this what are the pros and cons.
 
Seat Heaters:

No doubt better than nothing ......... may depend a lot on outside temperatures while driving ... e. g., how far south or north ...... and/or whether driving late mornings after sunrise .......... few details on expected driving temperatures would be helpful for a more accurate response.
 
Put a hot water heater in it, you can run the lines thru the floor boards if you don't want
to put holes in your firewall. And put butt warmers in the seats and you'll happy as
a pig in you know what.....
 
Del in NE Ohio said:
I have considered the hot water heat, just didn't want to drill the holes in the firewall for hose connections and unit mounting.

In this part of Ohio we have 4 distinct seasons! June, July, August, and WINTER!
Click to expand...



The folks who live in Rockford, Illinois would say they had only two seasons, nine months of winter and three months of bad weather.

Tom Endy
 
Im surprised no one is talking manifold heaters ? Have one in my vehicle & even in the snow on trips we must have the windows down to keep COOL. An old 35 V8 cpe had a funnel on the inside of radiator with a lenght of 1-1/2" garden hose attached , it stuck through the floor boards with a cork in the end, Just pulled the cork for winter driving , problem was odd person that got cut short also pulled the cork. No mice in that vehicle. Them where the days ???
 
Quik Change - I am a fan of Exhaust Manifold Heaters. They work great, and do NOT leak engine fumes in the car, when properly installed. And are period correct; particuliarly if one is to use an old vintage piece. I use a Otwell Health Heater from 1929.

However, the poster of the query said he did not want to drill holes in his firewall.
 
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