Heater

shepsvettes

shepsvettes

Member
I just installed a original Autolite heater on my 30 coupe. Is there supposed to be any connector between the heater flange and the firewall heater door?

Thanks.
 
I don't need one though some have said they use a tin can or similar item.
I do not use their bolt on arrangement.
I use two large stainless hose clamps for easy on easy off for the heater.
I do not keep it on after Springtime for fear of overheating the manifold in Summer.
 
That's a very interesting question. I have not seen any factory literature nor pictures of supposedly original installations. I have used the Autolight heater manifold and cover, not just the clamp on heater that goes over a stock manifold, for a very long time on all of my closed (Model A) cars. Where the problem arises is the amount of clearance between the cover and the firewall door. There is room between the heater outlet and the firewall receiver for a short length of high temperature ducting when the firewall door is one that appears to be "original". I do have several aftermarket aluminum "doors" that do not have enough room for a hose. The bottom line is that, when using the hose, the volume of heat definitely does increase. The two inch hose that I use is a product made for use in an aircraft engine compartment and is available at www.aircraftspruce.com.
 
Although I'm using an Otwell heater,I used a piece of 1 7/8" stainless tube. Without the tube I got no heat.The heater works extremely well in my coupe. I also made up a deflector to slide in the outlet so some heat is forced in the drivers direction. It's amazing how such a simple thing works so well.
 
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I use a piece of black rubber radiator hose that's a tad smaller than the OD of the heater. I slit it end-to-end. It has a generous fit, overlapping the heater and the firewall. It has enough tension to "snap" on and stay. No problem with burning rubber. No problem with the little gap at the bottom of the hose. It works, directing the heat into the car and pretty much eliminating that rich aroma of burnt and unburned hydrocarbons and the manly smell of hot oil. Consequently, Jan will ride with me. (It is a good trade off.)
 
I have an original heater and door. It looks like there was a flexable pipe used to connect the two. There were some pieces left on the door portion. I went to the radiator hose method 20 years ago and it has worked well all this time.
 
I have used heavy duty tin foil. Just wrap it around a few times with a couple of banjo clamps and it will last all winter. Now is the time to be taking the cover off.
 
From what I was told yes, because it generates excessive heat at the exhaust manifold. (I think that's Bull). I don't know how true this is but if it were me, I would take it off just so that the heat will not be sent to the cab in the summer and add to an over warm interior of the car. Just what I've heard and my opinion.
 
I remove my heater since the heat from the manifold does not dissipate if it has a heater over it blocking its heat dissipation to the environment.
This is even more extreme with the heater door closed, preventing its outlet. The manifold can get red hot in certain circumstances.
 
I remove the cover in the summer since the heater door does not seal perfectly and one does not need any added heat in the car during the summertime.
 
I had a Director Special on until recently adn it would fry condensors if it gets to hot. So besides dissipating heat from the manifold you won't fry anything.

Mike
 
I use a piece of flexible manifold heat riser stove pipe used on some modern car air cleaners (well, 70's era chevys are modern aren't they?) and available at auto parts stores. Its cheap and some types have a black coating that makes them look era correct.
 
I've used a rolled up piece of metal (i.e. an old tin can) as a connection between the manifold and body door. It works just fine! Even had a friend get a hot foot from it. He had to take his shoe off. We still laugh about it. It would be advisable to remove the connection in warm weather. I see by Bob A's picture that he is running an Otwell Heater and that there is an upper "door" in addition to the rear heat outlet. This upper door should be opened in warm weather to give the heat somewhere to go instead of toward the body. Autolite heaters do not have this feature.
 
I used a piece of 3" flexible aluminum duct used for bath exhaust fans. You can get it at Home Depot, works great.
 
I dont know about exact dimensions, but possibly you could use an old radiator hose, and just cut it to the length needed.
 
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