The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk DO YOU HAVE A HEATER IN THERE?

I see alot of pictures of AD trucks here with no heater motor or hoses showing. Do you guys have heaters in there or just don't drive in the winter or live in Florida?

i am in the process of removing my heater. when i replace it with a a/c unit the the hoses will be hidden, the holes have been welded up and the firewall smoothed. ron

That is my plan. Have you decided on a brand of unit?

I'm at that stage in my current build....removed the heater...I use a small portable 12v ceramic heater when it gets THAT cold....the A/C is much more critical. I've installed underdash A/C only, units before....check yellow pages for auto air suppliers. Our local supplier carries all the parts and is more than happy to help match up the system. Even crimpes my hoses for free after I get everything set up. A/C is simple and trouble-free, until you start adding solenoids and other do-dads that just cause you problems.

I've checked on several packages...all have features and little quirks that I didn't like, or need....and rarely offer the brackets and pulleys that are critical for the install. My total for installs is usually $300-$400 less than the so-called complete packages and I can mount the compressor and run the hoses where I wanted them. Hope this helps.

I have had to replace the core one time and mabe someday ill replace the valve[bypased] and switch[toggle for now].I drive mine daily and the 6 volt heater works quite well. AT-20 i put card board in front off the grill to get a little more heat but probably wouldnt needn it if the truck wernt so drafty.A choke would be nice too at-15 and beyond it gets a little hard to start but no problems without a choke at temps above that.

i havn't chosen a brand yet but yes they are pricey, 1000.00 but i want one that is hidden as possible. the big problem with the air is ia have power steering and mounting the compressor wil be a challenge. if i hadn't just bought a new power rack i might have added a flaming river electric power steering column because i plan to install a new column any way. ron

I think heaters were optional in the old days. I needed mine this morning for sure. The frost plug heater which is on a timer helps with the 6-volt starting and gets the water temp up a little faster.

Heaters were optional up through the 60s. I bought a 60 ford pickup in 1963 without a heater. I don't know how the original owner stood the cold. It took me a couple of weeks before I could afford to have the Ford place put a heater in it. Till then, when the temp dropped down I would take a coffee can and fill it half full of pea gravel and pour kerosene in it and light it up. It was 5:00 AM and dark the first time I did it. I drove about 65 miles to the next town. Getting there I thought it was still dark until I got out of the truck and discovered the sun was well up.
The kerosene had blackened the windows. I was 19 and a knucklehead as most 19 year olds are...

The 51 firetruck didn't come with a heater. However I plan to use it for winter (Christmas) parades and my wife said "she wasn't going if she had to be freezing." I put in a restored heater the next week! I used it yesterday for the very first time while working on the truck and it added heat to the cab just fine.

"I put in a restored heater the next week!"
A man with a focus toward self preservation...

An AC is desireable anymore. I'm looking for a swampcooler that I can afford. My 38 came from the factory without a heater. I found a fellow that restores heaters to original & bought one, along with the defroster, from him. I works really well and will run you out if you let it. I can understand Texas bolters not needing a heater but Indiana? I'd think it gets as cold there as here. Maybe I'm a sissy but I LIKE my heater.

I"ve got 3 or 4 heaters in boxes in the garage... i need to get one of them fixed up and put it in The Ox... not so much for the heat as for the defroster!!!

Took my 53 3100 circular heater core to rad shop. Said it couldn't be fixed. Do I take it some where else for second opinon or try to fix my self? Any ideas from fellow bolters.

Contact Roger Kaster @ [email protected] he restores heaters. He may have a core or be able to tell you where to get your fixed.

yes dip it in fibberglass reson pull it out let it harden up and your good to go

That's thick stuff,isn't it? Won't it effect the passages?

Here's what I did (AC/Heat):
Old Aire Hurricane Unit

I agree guys i had to use the defrost and heater this morning. I like my heat in the mornings.

Rusty. have a round good heater core for sale?

I don't have a heater in my truck...

...but I don't drive it in the winter, either.

Most of the time, the heat from the engine is enough to warm up the cab.

Wally/ Montana, From your pictures,I believe that I must live very close to you-- In Missoula?
Drop me a line - [email protected]

I would think at least a windshield defroster is needed everywhere, even in the swamps on a cool morning.
Tomo

There is a fan mounted on my dash for that purpose.

My old 51 3200 had a heater but no defroster. I would keep a rag under the seat to wipe the windows when they fogged up. One day I discovered a product that would, when smeared on the windows, prevent the fogging of the windows. I don't remember the name but it was pink in color and really worked well.

There is a guy in Farmington NY that rebuilds round cores and he did mine for $250 and did a great job. I can look it up if you are interested. My problem is now I can hardly get an air flow from the standard heater on my 57 chevy. Motor is plenty strong and fan pitch looks correct, but air flow sucks and can't believe that is the original design. Anyone had that same experience or am I doing something wrong?

Bob K [email protected]

Bob, which heater do you have in the 57? not a round core I hope?

Bill

Thanks Honey, I ended up fixin it my self with a 140 watt soldering iron.It was only the seams that had opened up.Don't understand why the Radshop wouldn't fix it. Guess they ware afrade to work on it.

The original owner of my 37 put it on the drivers side and butchered the firewall a little so when I redone the truck I filled the holes and went without a heater,now I want to drive it when it gets cold so I picked up a original heater and will be restoring it this summer. I wish I would of thought about a heater when I was restoring the truck as I would of modified the dash for defroster ducts as i dont want to ruin the paint on the dash now. Jeff