Heater question for the cold clime guys...

Henry Hopper

Henry Hopper

Senior Member
I've just refurbished an old Art Deco style heater and I am thinking of fitting it into the Cabriolet.Before I start actually doing anything I need to know if it is worthwhile...does the water actually circulate through the heater matrix with the poor pumps and water taking the path of least resistance ie,passing down the 1/2" feed and return tubes.

Also, what would be the best position for the fitting in the bottom tube 12,3 or 6 o'clock...and where does the return pipe from the heater go to...its a stock 1936 21 stud motor btw.

I could probably get by with no heater but there is no way my wife would lol.

TIA
 
The optional Ford hot water heater in my '40 puts out plenty of heat. The tubes are located at about 10 and 4 o'clock. The return hose (10 o'clock) goes to a nipple fitting that's installed in the lower RH radiator hose.
 
Old golden rule; bottom heater to top of head, top of heater to bottom either radiator hose or nipple on water pump..............
 
What big job says. There is a fitting that is installed in the lower radiator hose.
 

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I run an early Ford heater in my '40. With 160 'stats there is plenty of heat, defrosters just so-so.
With a 21 stud motor one heater hose to the right side water pump, one heater hose to the lower right side radiator hose.
You really need thermostats to make the heater work.
 
Thanks for the info guys and the old document.
I just became the latest curator of a '40 Tudor sedan.
Mine has the hot air manifold heater and I want to convert to hot water.
Any ideas where to find a good one?
Rick
Bellevue, WA
 
They show up on ebay, no idea how you determine good from ebay! Their are several rebuilders.
 
01b3dfbc28a0ad8ee79095b4313961a6a488aca366.jpgYou can trawl Epay for vintage auto heater. The really choice ones don't come up that often, and restored ones sometimes are kinda pricey. But you can do the restoration yourself and save a bundle.

Here's the one I found there and restored. It didn't have a fan and the doors needed to be replated, but it didn't leak, and I found a small 12v auto fan that works for it. It is a Hadees for 1936 with great Art Deco styling and looks PERFECT in my coupe.

Next spring I am planning on running lines from a cooler in the trunk for a summertime poor man's AC. Sort of like the small airplane coolers that are on the market.
 
remember you have to drill big holes in the firewall for a water heater, thats one of the joys of the hot air models. i have a manifold heater in my model A coupe and i love it. instant heat, and works well. as a mater of fact i'm going out for a drive yet tonight. its about 20 degrees, here in minnesota, and i'll be nice and warm. how about a tropic air heater (gas) in your v8?
 
I restored an Arvin for my 1934 Fordor. Mainly because Bonny and Clyde's death car had one. However our temperate climate and the shortish runs I do means I haven't installed it yet . If I could find an original RHD 1934 exhaust heater I would install that -However I suspect they were never made in RHD form -Karl
 
I have a round Atlas in my 46 2dr. Its not original but I liked the looks of it
the front turns in a circle for air flow direction. Works fair and if i had and
interior it would work very well. The core is designed in a circle also.
 
I found this beauty on the HAMB! Took the core to the local radiator shop for repair and it works great! I have it on a 2-speed switch.
 

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Love all these heater photo's ! Any more photos out there ? Let's start a collection. Although it works great they put my stock '47 to shame.

Mine operates off the right side of engine, which many say often runs a little warmer than the left side .... whatever .... I get heat pretty quick. And yes, definitely need stat's of whatever rating one prefers.
 
Here in tropical Texas I took the heaters out of my old cars. Added one back in as a hiding place for a modern radio on my 41.
 
This B.F. Goodrich heater was in the 39 Deluxe my dad drove. Original or after market accessory? Most old car heaters were inadequate here in Saskatchewan winters. The stick-on frost shields were necessary to maintain a few un-frosted "portholes" to see where you were driving.
 

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I have an old Southwind heater that was designed to look like the hood and hood ornament on a 40 Ford. It is in good shape, just some surface rust. When I take the time to learn how to post pictures I will post it.
 
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