Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-21-2012, 07:11 PM   #21
BILL WILLIAMSON
Senior Member
 
BILL WILLIAMSON's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: FRESNO, CA
Posts: 12,560
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Can South Wind gas heaters still be found? The one in my '41 convert was very comfortable & reasonably small and easy hookup.--Bill W.
__________________
"THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

Last edited by BILL WILLIAMSON; 01-27-2012 at 11:06 PM.
BILL WILLIAMSON is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2012, 07:43 PM   #22
columbiA
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: B.C. Canada
Posts: 1,746
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

You live in SO-CAL & you need a heater? Give me a brake! LOL.Seriously,I think Rainmaker Rons or Tom W,s idea for a heater is the best.As for putting a V8-60 in a model A,I think you would likely have a stock A running on 3 cyls pass you on the hills! A V8-60 only has about 90 ft lbs torque & a stock A engine has much more than that.
columbiA is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 01-21-2012, 07:53 PM   #23
dfish2931nc
Member
 
dfish2931nc's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 68
Send a message via ICQ to dfish2931nc
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

I bought a heater off ebay for $45. Cleaned and painted it. It went on the inside firewall without much work. Used a toggle switch to run blower. It gets warm in the car and is above the foot area of the floorboard.
dfish2931nc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2012, 08:55 PM   #24
Barry B./ Ma.
Senior Member
 
Barry B./ Ma.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southbridge, Ma.
Posts: 1,614
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry B./ Ma. View Post
I would think that an Autolite bolt on hot air heater would be quite adequate in Cal.
It would require a hole in the firewall and the proper exhaust manifold. I hve one in my coupe and it is fine in New England as long as the tmp is over 25 deg. F.
Sorry, my mistake, I was thinking Model A four banger. In your case I think I'd install an aftermarket hot water heater. The Hadees heater they made in the day is fairly narrow and fits nicely. I bought one in a flea market and had it in a 30 coupe, it worked well and didn't take up[ too much space.
Barry B./ Ma. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2012, 09:01 PM   #25
Barry B./ Ma.
Senior Member
 
Barry B./ Ma.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southbridge, Ma.
Posts: 1,614
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred K-OR View Post
Barry or Gar-Do either of you have a picture of your manifold? I had a "heater" type manifold on my coupe when I purchased it and I am trying to identify what brand of heater it is and what type of cover I need for it.

Thanks
Fred, I don't have a picture of it but it has side fins and two tapped holes on top to mount the Autolite cast cover. I've seen some at flea markets.
Barry B./ Ma. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2012, 10:47 PM   #26
buyitsmart
Member
 
buyitsmart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Altamonte Springs, Florida
Posts: 96
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by John LaVoy View Post
I'm not sure the manifold heaters will work on the V-8 Snyder's offers a heater that mounts on the firewall that uses water from the radiator and an electric fan. You should be able to adapt that to work. We actually put heated seats into the sedan and didn't install any heater.
John, Where do you get heated seats? Is it something that any upholstery shop can do? Does LB offer a heated seat upholstery package???
Really interested in that modification. Sounds like a good solution without having to add a bulky heater. I have a 12v conversion so I'm hoping to do that to my 31 coupe.
__________________
Fix it like you know you're gonna drive it.
buyitsmart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-21-2012, 10:52 PM   #27
buyitsmart
Member
 
buyitsmart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Altamonte Springs, Florida
Posts: 96
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by dfish2931nc View Post
I bought a heater off ebay for $45. Cleaned and painted it. It went on the inside firewall without much work. Used a toggle switch to run blower. It gets warm in the car and is above the foot area of the floorboard.
dfish, got any pics of the heater? Are you running 12v?
__________________
Fix it like you know you're gonna drive it.
buyitsmart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2012, 03:15 AM   #28
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by buyitsmart View Post
John, Where do you get heated seats? Is it something that any upholstery shop can do? Does LB offer a heated seat upholstery package???
Really interested in that modification. Sounds like a good solution without having to add a bulky heater. I have a 12v conversion so I'm hoping to do that to my 31 coupe.
My friend's Honda has heated seats and they take quite a long time before I can feel any heat. That makes them useless on trips of less than 15 miles.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2012, 03:48 AM   #29
Jim/GA
Senior Member
 
Jim/GA's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Young Harris, GA
Posts: 1,808
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by buyitsmart View Post
John, Where do you get heated seats? Is it something that any upholstery shop can do? Does LB offer a heated seat upholstery package???
Really interested in that modification. Sounds like a good solution without having to add a bulky heater. I have a 12v conversion so I'm hoping to do that to my 31 coupe.
Electric heated seats take a lot of amps. It is not really the way to go in a Model A. Hot water heat is quite easy to do. If you don't like the unit on the firewall, put a small heater/fan under the front seat. Have it blow hot air out at your feet. Some of it will be trapped under the seat and serve as seat warmers.
__________________
Jim Cannon
Former MAFCA Technical Director
"Have a Model A day!"
Jim/GA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2012, 01:59 PM   #30
silvertop
Member
 
silvertop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: pittsburgh, Pa.
Posts: 64
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

There is a manifold heater listed on Ebay now, if you are interested #120818213860.
__________________
The only thing that can beat an attempt----is a failure!!!!
silvertop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2012, 02:13 PM   #31
V4F
Senior Member
 
V4F's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: ca.
Posts: 2,522
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

i had my heater for like 10 yrs . used to live in the high desert (+20= -20) . the little 7" square works just fine . vintage ford & other vendors sell them . comes with a template for mounting on fire wall .................... steve
__________________
V4f
V4F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2012, 04:00 PM   #32
Fred K-OR
Senior Member
 
Fred K-OR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Stayton, Oregon
Posts: 3,806
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry B./ Ma. View Post
Fred, I don't have a picture of it but it has side fins and two tapped holes on top to mount the Autolite cast cover. I've seen some at flea markets.

Thanks Barry. The one I have has two tapped holes on top with the fins. So I will have to check further as to what make it is and what "cap" thing will fit on top of it.
__________________
Fred Kroon
1929 Std Coupe
1929 Huckster
Fred K-OR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2012, 05:58 PM   #33
dfish2931nc
Member
 
dfish2931nc's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NC
Posts: 68
Send a message via ICQ to dfish2931nc
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

I'll take a picture of the heater in the morning.
dfish2931nc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2012, 07:09 PM   #34
Barry B./ Ma.
Senior Member
 
Barry B./ Ma.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southbridge, Ma.
Posts: 1,614
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred K-OR View Post
Thanks Barry. The one I have has two tapped holes on top with the fins. So I will have to check further as to what make it is and what "cap" thing will fit on top of it.
Fred I'll go out in the morning and take a measurement between the bolt holes on the Autolite cover and post. Barry

The mounting bolt spacing on my Autolite cover is 7". Yours look wider.

Last edited by Barry B./ Ma.; 01-23-2012 at 10:09 PM. Reason: added bolt spacing
Barry B./ Ma. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-23-2012, 09:27 PM   #35
buyitsmart
Member
 
buyitsmart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Altamonte Springs, Florida
Posts: 96
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by steve norcal View Post
i had my heater for like 10 yrs . used to live in the high desert (+20= -20) . the little 7" square works just fine . vintage ford & other vendors sell them . comes with a template for mounting on fire wall .................... steve
Steve, what does your heater look like? Is it a hot water heater?
__________________
Fix it like you know you're gonna drive it.
buyitsmart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-23-2012, 11:30 PM   #36
Chris Haynes
Senior Member
 
Chris Haynes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA
Posts: 2,830
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

I live in Los Angeles and we do get freezing weather here in the winter time. The mountains around Los Angeles get covered in snow. Rain today but supposed to be sunny for the next week.
__________________
1921 Runabout
1930 Tudor
Early 1930 AA
Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?

Last edited by Chris Haynes; 01-23-2012 at 11:36 PM.
Chris Haynes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2012, 06:28 AM   #37
James Rogers
Senior Member
 
James Rogers's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Asheville,NC
Posts: 3,104
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON View Post
Can South Wind gas heaters still be found? The one in my '41 convert was very comfortable & reasonably small and easy hookup.--Bill W.
I have one I bought at Hershey a few years ago so, they are still available. I also have a complete instruction manual for the southwinds.
James Rogers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2012, 06:29 AM   #38
James Rogers
Senior Member
 
James Rogers's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Asheville,NC
Posts: 3,104
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

Quote:
Originally Posted by columbiA View Post
You live in SO-CAL & you need a heater? Give me a brake! LOL.Seriously,I think Rainmaker Rons or Tom W,s idea for a heater is the best.As for putting a V8-60 in a model A,I think you would likely have a stock A running on 3 cyls pass you on the hills! A V8-60 only has about 90 ft lbs torque & a stock A engine has much more than that.
And weighs more than twice as much.
James Rogers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2012, 07:04 AM   #39
Aerocraft
Senior Member
 
Aerocraft's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Naperville, IL
Posts: 1,387
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

An enthusiast in our area installed a V-8 60 in his Model A closed cab pickup. Looks cute but is very underpowered. Last I knew, he was looking for a rear axle ratio beyond 4:11. I have a number of South Winds. PM if interested. Gar Williams
Aerocraft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-24-2012, 09:17 AM   #40
Ed in Maine
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL
Posts: 1,106
Default Re: Best Type of Heater to Install

I could use a heater here in Maine for those fall and early winter tours but I could never bring myself to start boring holes in the firewall. Over the years I have spent too much time welding up all the holes that were drilled by others. Has anyone seen a hot water heater installation where the hoses came through the upper floor board which could be easily replaced? Ed
Ed in Maine is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:38 PM.