Manifold heater is ugly

billybronco1

Well-known member
If they had manifold heaters in 1931 I doubt they were made of cast aluminum. I really don't like the look. I saw one guy painted his the ford engine green, I was wondering what you thought of that or maybe even black. But the aluminum just does not look right.
 

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Re: Manifold header is ugly

Yes, If you plan on having an Otwell manifold heater, one can't access the distributor lock screw. On the other hand the Autolite manifold has a hole in the casting just opposite the screw for dist. The finish on the top cast iron Autolite cover was silver originally, I know it doesn't go with Ford engine green. Or any other color for that.
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

To get paint to stick. Wipe it down with vinager. It will etch it enough to stick.
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

If they had manifold heaters in 1931 I doubt they were made of cast aluminum. I really don't like the look. I saw one guy painted his the ford engine green, I was wondering what you thought of that or maybe even black. But the aluminum just does not look right.

When you live way down south in Boston, why do you need a heater?
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

The heater cover WAS made during the Model A time frame. However it was cast iron, not aluminim. Like the modern day aluminum reproductions, it went on and off easily and quickly, both for summer driving, and for accessing the distributor.

Mass A Man: The Otwell Health Heater at first (1928-29) came with a straight top and did not allow for access to the distrubitor. A major design flaw. This was corrected however, in the later amended model (for 1930 & '31) that had a dip in the middle of the top, to allow for access to the distributor.

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

I remember Chief sometimes replaced distributor parts, with the distributor IN PLACE. "Maybe" it was stuck?? Everything, except the bushings, can be diagnosed or replaced with the dist. IN the engine.
Bill W.
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

"When you live way down south in Boston, why do you need a heater?"

Because of the Montreal Express.
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

It gets cold down here too but it came with the car. If there was no hole through the fire wall I probably would leave it off. I decided to paint it black and modify how it is mounted so it does not look so bad. It does work and it is a conversation item.
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

The one i have has...SNYDERS INC. PHILA. PA. its cast not alum. ...sits nicely on manafold...i use 2 wires to hold it in place...easy to remove.
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

By Jove Doug! (in Eureka,Ca.), You're correct! I dug out a few heater manifolds I have and found one with the "dip" in the middle. I'm used to seeing the flat across Otwell's. Shown a picture of the dippy manifold.--Pete.
 
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Re: Manifold header is ugly

Yes, I also have one of the Otwell health heaters like Doug mentioned and the one pictured above. It was on a 31 tudor that I drove in the mid 60s . I haven't used it in nearly 50 years. It doesn't get that cold here. I don't like any manifold heater. They make the car TOO hot inside and put too much heat on the distributor.
 
Re: Manifold header is ugly

Purdy - When the "Otwell Health Heater" people redesigned their heater (with the dip in the middle of the top), they also added a 'Heat Escape' door at the rear of the top, to allow heat to escape out into the engine compartment and NOT go into the interior of the cab. When the heater door to the firewall was closed and the connecting pipe from the heater to the firewall was removed for summer driving, this worked very well to prevent heat from entering the cab.

Also, on the new 'Improved' models with the 'dip' in the middle of the top (to allow access to the distributor), the dip creates a comfortable air space between the heater top and the distributor condensor. This increases the life expectance of the condensor - especially if an A&L 'heat proof' condensor is used.

- Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif
Western Sales Division, Othwell Health Heaters, Inc.
 
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