The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Deluxe heater for Advance Design trucks

I am sorry if this has been beat to death but I am trying to understand why my truck (1955 first series) does not have a Ranco valve or the adjustment knob to the right side of the radio on the bottom of the dash. Also there is no blower motor visible from the engine bay.

What my truck does have is some kind of heater inside ( Its all painted over so I cannot see any decal), a coolant hose that goes in an out of the cab to the engine bay and a small fan switch to the left of the steering wheel.

Do I just have a standard heater and my truck never came with a Ranco valve and temperature adjustment valve?

Thanks!

Joe

You can have a Recirculating heater or and aftermarket brand, there were several brands, Arvin, B.F. Goodrich, Montgomery Ward, etc. Here are a couple pictures to help with your I.D.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8377841188/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8258511484/in/set-72157632208362076
The recirculating heater has no Ranco and a plate covers the firewall opening.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129058609/in/set-72157631867396207
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129332680/in/set-72157631868452754
This is a 1947 vintage square heater design, most aftermarket types are of similar construction. The switch you speak of (again there is a wide variety) is how these heaters were controlled.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129352382/in/set-72157631868452754
Hope that helps, if you can get a picture I can help identify what you have.

Thanks for the info! The best picture I have is murky but I think you can see the heater in it

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My switch looks like the one in your picture. I think I have the standard recirculating heater. There is indeed a block off plate on the firewall opening.

With the standard heater I am guessing there is no way to turn off the hot water supply. You just turn the fan off if you don't want heat?

Thanks again,

Joe

Yes you do have the recirculating heater. The factory way of shutting off the flow is a valve like this at the thermostat housing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8377101217/in/set-72157631868452754
For my own heater I constructed a set of custom SS valves.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129060091/in/set-72157631867396207