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Old 09-24-2013, 02:29 PM   #1
Gino
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Default Gonna drive every day

Hi, I live in the north east. Is there a good or preferred way to have heat in the cab of my pickup? I'm thinking about a 12 volt battery in a box in the bed and a ceramic heater? Appreciate the help Gino
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Old 09-24-2013, 02:39 PM   #2
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

I'd suggest you find an Otwell Health Heater, which replaces the exhaust manifold. I'm very pleased with mine, especially since I live up near Lake Superior!
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Old 09-24-2013, 02:49 PM   #3
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

I put a hot water heater in mine. Wife loves it!
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Old 09-24-2013, 02:52 PM   #4
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

If it will fit in the cab, a Southwind Heater will do the job. But I don't know if it will fit.
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Old 09-24-2013, 03:04 PM   #5
mass A man
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

Get an old Autolite manifold heater and do the install. You may already have "the hole" cut thru your firewall. Many do.
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Old 09-24-2013, 03:30 PM   #6
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

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I don't like to cut extra holes in the metal, so I would run a water heater through the wood floor boards.
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Old 09-24-2013, 03:33 PM   #7
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

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Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg View Post
I don't like to cut extra holes in the metal, so I would run a water heater through the wood floor boards.
That's what I did.
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Old 09-24-2013, 03:48 PM   #8
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

I have used a small coleman catalytic heater and it will definitely keep you warm and with the volume of air leaks in the A, no O2 concerns.
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Old 09-24-2013, 03:53 PM   #9
Tom Wesenberg
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I have used a small coleman catalytic heater and it will definitely keep you warm and with the volume of air leaks in the A, no O2 concerns.
Interesting!
Any pictures of it, and is it safe to use inside a small shop about 10' x 20'?
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Old 09-24-2013, 03:55 PM   #10
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

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Originally Posted by Gino View Post
Hi, I live in the north east. Is there a good or preferred way to have heat in the cab of my pickup? I'm thinking about a 12 volt battery in a box in the bed and a ceramic heater? Appreciate the help Gino
Resistance heat from a 12 volt battery will drain the battery very quickly, so it isn't really practical.
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Old 09-24-2013, 03:56 PM   #11
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

Do you happen to have a photo of that "hole". I have a hole in the firewall of my '28 roadster and have always wondered what it was for. I looks factory and has always baffled me.
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Old 09-24-2013, 04:20 PM   #12
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

Using electricity to generate heat always requires a lot of current. I would go with the hot water heater.

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Old 09-24-2013, 08:04 PM   #13
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

PeteCruz, I don't have a photo yet of my manifold heater door hole, but it is a very LARGE one in the firewall, just above and in-line with your exhaust manifold. About 2-1/4" diam. Up here in the Northeast, I can count on one hand, how many A's I've seen that DON'T have that heater door hole. That's restored ones, "woods finds" and everything car in between. I like the idea of a water heater, but the "A" has such limited room up front for the heater core and a real pain to remove the floorboards sometimes if all the floor screws are in place.
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Old 09-24-2013, 08:15 PM   #14
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

Here's one off Google
Attached Images
File Type: jpg model a heater.jpg (241.2 KB, 231 views)
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Old 09-24-2013, 10:12 PM   #15
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

yea hole is about the size of 2 1/4 exhaust tubing could slide thru it...
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Old 09-24-2013, 10:13 PM   #16
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day


see the baseball sized hole in the lower firewall section?

(yes its whats left of my cab....)
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Old 09-26-2013, 07:01 AM   #17
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

Ok, I like the idea of a hot water heater. If anyone can give me some info on the brand of heater and how to do it I'd be grateful, thanks Gino
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Old 09-26-2013, 07:40 AM   #18
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

My vote is water heater. If you choose the exhaust manifold heater you'll smell like the engine compartment. Hot water heaters aren't hard to install. Just a little piping and mounting the box inside.
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Old 09-26-2013, 08:49 AM   #19
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

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Originally Posted by Gino View Post
Ok, I like the idea of a hot water heater. If anyone can give me some info on the brand of heater and how to do it I'd be grateful, thanks Gino
If I install a heater it will be a water heater. I will go to the junk yard and find one to use, then make my own sheetmetal box for it. I will duct the heat to a floor grate. This way I won't loose any interior space.

I've also been thinking about just wrapping the muffler and using that heat through a floor grate. That would be even easier as I won't have to run hoses and change the water fittings.
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Old 09-26-2013, 09:13 AM   #20
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Default Re: Gonna drive every day

Do you have 12v or 6? If you have 12 there are a number of heater for closed cab farm tractors etc. Here are a couple of options.



http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=350655925187
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