Not for the purist?

[Dyna]

When I purchased my 1948 Merc project over a year ago the interior was gutted, the fenders needed restoration, dash had been torn out and lots of parts were missing or needed restoration. The engine and drivetrain were in and there had been work done on the undercarriage. It had been converted from 6 to 12 volt and the wiring was partially re-done. Living in the great white north, I knew I would only drive my finished car on dry balmy days. I felt that a heater would be a useless appendage. An aftermarket radio would be nice but I didn't want to put it in the slot in the dash so I came up with this. Almost ready to install. Hope it works.

 

[tubman]

Very clever. However, I am in North central Minnesota, and some of the best driving is in the fall when a heater is a welcome accessory.

 

[5lugnuts]

The sight of that heater with the little doors brings back so many memories. Fifty years ago I took the heater out of my '46 Merc, cleaned up the electric motor, oiled it, flushed the core out and spray painted the housing with those little doors. Crude but by using those doors to deflect the hot air it worked very well.

I have been looking but haven't seen one since I sold the car. Thanks for the picture!
You will freeze your bass off without it though on a cold night!

 

[Joe Immler]

Dyna, that is one hell of a great idea. What will they (we) think of next !

 

[Talkwrench]

like it !

 

[kirkf]

Well yours looks alot prettier than mine!

Kirk

 

[big job]

A little side track , my youngest son bought this about 5"X 3" fat black What ya call it that plugs in my phone Pandora I think. I tell you this little box puts out unreal base
mid range and treble, Under 50 bucks I think? Back to the heater. I have a mint
heater/ defrosters, mint wire and controls. Problem is my car never had heater or radio.
So all pics I see online is that the heater is slightly right of the center line, not in the middle. Anyone know cause I don't want to drill holes in the wrong places...I made
a template already oh this is a 46 V8.
I'm not a purist as far as being judged, I just don't want to drill through my fuel pump or something (maybe thats why its off center)
tough ta get old sam

 

[Rustedjunk]

That is really cool! What were the step you did to convert it? Any pics?

 

[Zephyr Q]

Nice work. This southern Californian can relate to the lack of heater-days. (But I do hope to someday use the factory heated-seats in my Lincoln.)

 

[Old Henry]

I get the impression from reading some of the responses that some don't realize the picture is of a stock heater box converted into a stereo system.

It is no longer the heater that it looks like.