The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Heater goodies?

Does anyone know where is the best place to get parts for a 51 heater? I've got the fresh air setup, 6 volt motor that appears to work, but I'm still considering changing over to a 12 volt motor...any thoughts? Motors seem easy to find, same with the heater control valve. For now, the hoses just run from the radiator straight to the heater, there is no heater control valve or linkage or anything, so I've got no idea what is supposed to be there. I'll need that as well as the control rod(?) and knob, and apparently a switch also. Did the original switch have a rheostat to control the fan speed? Where to find the linkage for the heater control valve and an original style switch?I'd really like to keep it as original as possible, the whole truck is pretty close, and I'm going to get a picture up here as soon as possible! Thanks in advance for any and all help.

I will assume you are talking about a deluxe fresh air heater, the type that is attached to the side wall of the cab and sucks in air through the louvers on the right side of the cab. The Chevrolet Accessory Installation Manual has good drawings of all the hookups and parts, along with written instructions on installation. Heater control valves are on ebay every once in awhile, I found one once in a junk yard and got it, sold it to a friend. Those kind need to be rebuilt, which entails a new rubber seal, available from chevy duty, but the package it comes in says "NAPA", I would check there first. Switches were not reostats, but the click on,click off light switch type. Vintage Auto Parts has some, or did. I do not know of any other place that sells them.

Brian,
Thanks for the reply. Vintage Auto is about a 25 minute drive for me, and I never knew it was there! Looks like they sell NOS switches, but they aren't cheap, so I'll try your suggestion about looking in a boneyard first, and check on e-bay. Thanks again!

Its history so I cant get in trouble for this one...... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2432683717

MT,

Offering to substitute the 12v motor for $35 is a very fair offer.

The only things missing with the heater kit seem to be: the two rubber grommets to protect the heater hose where it passes through the firewall; the gasket/seal for where the heater/blower unit attached to the body, and, the metal ring and rubber seal to surround the heater motor where it protrudes through the firewall. Most of these items are available from restoration parts vendors, except for the metal ring for the motor seal.

I know that you know this, but others might not (you carefully and correctly listed the system for '48-'53): the '54 fresh air (deluxe) heater had a few differences: an inside/outside air door where the blower unit bolts to the body (necessitating a longer control cable and a few clips); and, a slightly different label (at least on the '54 Chevy unit).

Tim

You are correct TC. The 54 heater not only had the differences you listed but in addition : the defroster was now lever operated [ not cable operated like the 47-53 ] & now the cable operated the trap door to control the ammount of air that entered the cab.The 54 heaters do not have the little " Harrison " ID plate on the back side, it was changed to stenciling.
I do believe there may be some late 53 trucks that have the 54 heater. One of the 54 heaters I have has a stenciling on the back stating
" H. D.- 206 - 53 ".

I think the guy who got the heater got a good deal. My heater's radiator had to be re-cored, it cost me a little over $100 just for that! Apparently that size core are kind of scarce.

That sure looked like a good deal to me ~ I've been assembling a heater by scouring old junker deralicts , would have been much easier to just purchase this set up .
I only have $150.00 or so in all the just so parts but it _all_ needs repainting , etc.

I sure wish I had regular computer acess so I could score e-youknow where deals like this .

MT - I have factory information showing that the fresh air heater with the recirculating option was available in June of '53 in GMCs.

I think it's a little goofy the way that they have the driver reaching all the way across the cab to fiddle with the defroster vent. I would have either added a second control cable or used the hand flipper for the recirculation option rather than the defroster.