The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Turn off the heat!

I'd like to shut off the water to the heater in the summer. The heater hoses are going in to the original heater on my '54 Chevy 3100. I know it's not hard, but, knowing just what to buy will make it that much easier. Thanks for your help.
Dennis

auto parts has shut off valve for your heater.

^^what he said.A valve is installed in one of the hoses

Your local hardware might have what you need, too. Mine did. There is a photo showing valve I used on my photobucket link. Good luck!

You need one of these. Mount it up by the thermostat housing.

If you are not that concerned about originality, a 3/8 inch ball valve from hardware store, Home Depot, etc, works great. It is similar to what 40casey used.

Or take off the lines from the water pump , replace the hose connectors on the water pump with pipe plugs (3/8), and slip the hoses back over the pipe plugs. You can even put the hose clamps on if you want to.

This gives the originality "looks" and cuts off the hot water to the heater.

Put your hose connectors back on next fall for heat

Google Cooling Depot. I used their valve # 111 746 28V that is cable controlled. You can manually control it under the hood or do what I did was to hook up a cable and control it from inside the cab.

hippy,

Are you referring to: B & B Dixon Automotive Inc/Cooling Depot Inc?

Do you have a website address?

Hi, Tim , I can't find the box that the valve came in but try your locale flaps store and look for a 5/8in. in and out valve for a Chrysler, also google heater valve auto.

Thanks guys. I'm going with 40Casey's fix on his truck. His truck, by the way, is awesume!

On my 56 3200 235, I took an idea from the forum and installed an in line valve that I got at Advanved Auto. They had a black plastic unit that had a control mounted on the one side. If you wanted to reverse the valve for the flow it was possible to relocated the cable mount unit on the other side of the valve. I mouned it under the battery box and attached it to the temp arm on the deluxe heater control in my truck. I have a standard heater. I also connected the heat/defrost arm to the flip arm on the front of the heater box. Not enough throw but set for full defrost at defrost setting on control and mix of heat and defrost on full heat. Local TV tech rebuilt the fan switch and I use it to control the blower. Almost like real! The guys here think its factory. Just using here in the summer and the defrost for early morings or evening is most important.

I still haven't gotten the part to shut off the heat, but I did take my first First Place this weekend. It was the 1950-54 division (all makes and models) and I just added a Photobucket link to my profile. I'm a happy man.

Nice lookin truck man.

Hey Willy, great lookin' truck!! Was wondering what size and brand of tires you put on it?

BTW, If you have a Tractor Supply store nearby they have exactly the valve you're looking for. All brass.

Spot

sweet_willy , that's one great looking truck ! Congrats on the win !

Old air sells two cutoffs I would suggest you use. One is a manual cutoff to go on one of your hoses, the other is a cable operated valve that will adjust the hot water flow to your heater. That way you can adjust the heat in the cab on a not-so-cold day.

http://www.oldairproducts.com/catal...s/accessories-c-1_50000000_33000000.html

I'm going to have to check that out for you in the morning. I honestly don't remember. I did get them at Coker Tire in Chattanooga which isn't that far from me. I also got the rims there. I'll let you know what size they are.

Spot, the tires are P215/75R15 Coker 2 1/2" WW, the rims are 15X7 Smoothies both are from Coker Tire in Chattanooga, TN (423) 265-6368.

By the way, as you suggested I stopped by Tractor Supply today and found the brass ball valve. Thanks!

I installed the ball valve today. Let her run about 20 minutes or so and no leaks. Life is good and much cooler. Thanks to all who offered suggestions. Learned a lot as usual.

Pics! Where are the pics?

Willy,

Thanks for the specs on your tires. I'll contact Coker or go online and look around.

Also, glad you were able to find the brass ball valve I told you about. I've learned that Tractor Supply is a good source for odd pieces we need for our old trucks.

Spot

Big Chevy, here's the link to the photo of the shut off valve.
http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k540/sweetwilly2/heater%20shut%20off/heatershutoff.jpg

Willy,

I understand the principle of the hot water circulating through our heaters, but without the fan blowing accross it was the heater putting out that much noticable heat? And did the newly installed shut off valve make that much difference?

I'm only curious because, if it did, I want to install one this weekend.

Spot

No fan, no heat, at least not much. However you being in SA you won't need it much.

A box in your cab with 180° water circulating through it on a 100° day is certainly noticeable.

If sweet_willy has a 1954 Chevrolet truck (as indicated in his profile) and he has a GM heater, it is either a recirculating heater or an Air Flow (or Fresh Air) heater. The hot water will not flow through the Fresh Air heater unless the valve is open; however, the heated water will continuously circulate through the Recirculating Heater, heating the cab.

http://1954advance-design.com/Documents/Accessories/Booklet/Page1.jpg

The way I read it he had no valve at all to begin with. With no valve water will flow no matter what heater it is.

Spot, shutting off the water to the heater made a significant difference. I went to the Cavalcade of Antique Cars on Saturday. It's a thirty mile cruise to a cruise-in in St. Joe's Park, TN. It was in the mid-nineties and I was soooo glad I had put that shutoff in. My wife didn't ride with me that day, but she would have been even more grateful than I was since the heat comes out right at her feet. I highly reccommend putting the valve in. It's cheap, it's easy and it works.

This is an unrelated question for sweet_willy. I tried to send you a PM but, you are not accepting any.
I am about to send my '51 3100 out for paint and after seeing the pictures of your truck I am rethinking the black and green I have now.
Can you tell me what colour your green is?
It looks absolutely great.
Thanks.

Peter,actually my wife picked out the color. I told her I wanted a dark green but not too dark. I have some paint left over, it's in the shop. I'll check the color for you tomorrow.