Gonna drive every day

I played around with this problem for a while. I tried a manifold heater, but just couldn't get enough air to flow through it to warm the car. I then looked at restored water heaters, and mocked up a cardboard box of the heater sizes posted in ads, but there just wasn't a decent place to put it in an A.

Then I purchased unit made by Vintage Air that I thought I could mount high up on the inside of the firewall, but that didn't work because the A/C evaporator was in the way.

I ended up mounting it under the seat, air blowing forward. I had to cut an opening in the seat riser for a heat outlet, but it isn't seen. Once I got water flow issues worked out, and a thermostat on the engine, the heat output is tremendous. Exactly perfect for my needs.

IMG_0443_zpse7399da0.jpg


I also knew that using inside air in really cold weather would fog up the windows from the occupants breath, no matter how warm it is inside. SO, I left the manifold heater in place to bring in just enough dry outside air to eliminate that problem.

I noticed that there were cold drafts all over (Town Sedan) I fully weatherstripped the 4 doors, sealed real good around the pedals & steering column and the lower cowl areas that are open to the engine compartment. WOW, snug as a bug in a rug!
 
Last edited:
One other note, it's a 12 volt unit. Knowing what I know now, I would convert to 12v in order to have this.
Adequate heat makes driving an A in cold weather an entirely different experience.....
 
kingbee said:
One other note, it's a 12 volt unit. Knowing what I know now, I would convert to 12v in order to have this.
Adequate heat makes driving an A in cold weather an entirely different experience.....
Click to expand...

So technically you could say that you have heated seats! :)
 
I have a new H/W heater, the 7" X 7" and the water pipe with pickup to force HW to the heater. Having a fit trying to figure best way to mount & plumb this guy given gas valve and choke rod. Help??
 
I have found that a few of these can keep you warm, some can be quite expensive though...and loud too, but hey, at least you're warm.
 

Attachments

  • nqsg3d.jpg
    nqsg3d.jpg
    9.7 KB · Views: 78
  • 8q7USps.jpg
    8q7USps.jpg
    31.6 KB · Views: 67
  • 34a8f31a855eed0fc7d0b2dd27ce0e99--vintage-cars-vintage-stuff.jpg
    34a8f31a855eed0fc7d0b2dd27ce0e99--vintage-cars-vintage-stuff.jpg
    10.8 KB · Views: 68
  • ef106c00eb65bbf7ff6e117b97b5e0c6.jpg
    ef106c00eb65bbf7ff6e117b97b5e0c6.jpg
    46.9 KB · Views: 81
Rusty Homestead, That's a nice heater for Fla. My question is how to hook the heater output to the feedthrough in the firewall. The ones that I have seen just leave the space between the manifold heater and the firewall. Some heat must be lost between the two which is some cases looks like a gap of 3/8" or so . Jack
 
igG16tK.jpg


If your handy and concerned about size try a power steering cooler.use a flapper and a duct to operate it with forced air or rig a computer cooling fan..
 
I like railcar's oil cooler idea, I would come off the engine water outlet with 3/8" steel brake line and go just above manifold then under cab, fasten 3/8" ball valve under floor board with the handle inside the floor board then a steel return line to water inlet side of engine, unit will set under seat.
 
Not sure but if I kept a couple of those around my wife just might generate a lot of heat, plus she would have my guts for garters
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top