Heaters in pickups
 

Just wondering about guys who have installed heaters in your pickups, what are you using for on and off as well as defroster cable mounting brkt? I saw pictures with what appeared to be a small two hole panel mounted under the dash like 46 to 48 cars used. If so, anybody have a good one for sale by chance ?

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

40-41 trucks had different defroster ducks than the 40 Stds. At one time several of the suppliers had them in stock. I have used an aftermarket heater that has a defrost option and I used some flex tubing I had around. Since I am not restoring my cars, anything that works and looks good is fair game!

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

what year truck? I have several heaters, original and after market. I do have a 41 heater with controlls

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

The truck is a 1946, (picture on my profile) It has a three dr. heater installed but controls were kinda "gomped" up so hoping to make it more presentable. One of the former owners did put flexible pipes in for defroster ducts and mounted the control cable way over on the right side . Hope to relocate it to be more user friendly.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

Heater..??! I gave my daughter a blanket when I used to drop her to school ..:D

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

I've got a 40's Arvin in my F-1. I think it's a model 52G.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

Until the late 50's, early 60's heaters in trucks were not generally used, most of the truck cabs were so poorly fitted, engine heat took the edge off the cold and most of the heat from a heater escaped to the outside.
The one exception was GM trucks of the late '40's and 50's.. GM made a deal with Nash to use the Nash fresh aire heater in exchange for the Hydramatic transmission.
My father bought a new '52 Ford F1, V8 w/OD trans. It was a custom cab, radio, fresh aire heater/defroster. I loved that truck, it was the nicest truck my dad ever had.

There are some very nice compact heater defroster units in the mid size pickups, there are all 12v, which can be a problem in a older truck. The older trucks had a lot of aftermarket heater units available, which are somewhat correct for older vehicle.
A few words of caution. Older truck cabs are quite small, therefore a large heater similar to what would be used in a sedan will tend to overwhelm a truck cab, cutting down on foot room adjacent to the toe-board.
I recently saw a '59 truck with a late model heater/AC unit under the dash, actually the unit hung down below the dash taking up all of the foot space, including the brake and throttle peddles. Really dumb looking.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

I have a Southwind Junior model in my 35 pickup. It'll run you out in a hurry.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

I have a Southwind in mine. Like Lawson says it will provide more than enough heat. it is also fairly small.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

I guess I was not clear enough with my question. There is already a three dr. heater installed on the passenger side, (plenty of legroom) The question I was asking is, what have you used for the control switches to be mounted in and where did you locate that panel ? I'll probably fold some stiff aluminum and mount it to the left of center on bottom lip of dash. I like the picture of your cab, wondering how you hooked up the seat belts and how long are they ? My next move.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

Here are a couple of pics that might help.
The two switch unit is from a '53 F-100
The other is my '49 F-1 .
Both are an easy reach of the driver when installed.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

couple of pictures of my heater in 41 cab. same cab as yours-41 heater only had the switch mounted in a panel-I have two different types-defroster is knob on left top of heater. your truck should have the switch and the defroster control knob on same panel, which is about twice as wide as my 41. seat belts are 84" long and if you look under cab at the rear you will see an inverted u channel--I drilled thru that channel and mounted my seat belts there

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

Just about what I had in mind, thank you Dick

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

Great pictures, thanks Dick

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

I put a Southwind in my 37 pickup and now drive snow to snow up here in Bangor, Maine. I just love it.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

Go to your local hardware store and get some steel or aluminum angle to mount the switches

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

Does anyone have the lines used on a South Wind heater? I have the carb plate and the heater - I need the lines and also what is involved in installing this heater in my 39 pickup.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

Attached photos of defrost nozzles, nipple, shut off & switch brackets.

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

You might try here. http://southwindheater.com/Home.html


Bob

Re: Heaters in pickups
 

I have same heater in my 47 sedan :D