The Ford Barn

Rickjz · 02-02-2016, 10:42 PM

I purchased an original manifold heater from Bratton's assuming it would line up with the existing hole in my firewall. WRONG!! It is higher than the one I have. Any ideas as to what I have? I have photos, including a shot of the original firewall port.

Gary WA · 02-02-2016, 11:06 PM

The one on your firewall-There is no real location as per say the previous owner had a different type of heater and placed at that location to fit his unit is my guess. Does look lower due to the bending of plate inside.

cw253748 · 02-02-2016, 11:12 PM

I believe that is a otwell health heater

DougVieyra · 02-03-2016, 03:01 AM

Difficult to say what kind of heater was on car previously. I have seen several different heaters with a firewall door similar to your photo. One is my own Otwell Heater & Firewall Door. Yours looks similar to my door, but my original door has the name "Otwell Director" heavily embossed on the director cover.

As mentioned on previous post, I too think your firewall hole was meant to line up with the Otwell Manifold Health Heater, as that particular combination manifold/heater unit fits with more of a straight alignment than does most other heater covers with their raised neck at the rear.

Dollar Bill · 02-03-2016, 05:35 AM

Photo of Otwell heater as mentioned above.

Rickjz · 02-07-2016, 10:49 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks for everyone's help. I purchased an Otwell from a local forum member after he contacted me. Awesome guy!! I have installed it and am enjoying a heated cabin!

BILL WILLIAMSON · 02-07-2016, 12:38 PM

In Minerva, I added a computer case fan over the inside outlet & it DOUBLED the air volume. It would even keep the PIZZA HOT!
Bill W.

dave11 · 02-09-2016, 11:20 AM

Bill, I'm geussing yor car must be on 12 volts?

BILL WILLIAMSON · 02-09-2016, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave11

Bill, I'm geussing yor car must be on 12 volts?

No, Dave, it's 6 volts. I found a chart on the computer fan & it runs @ 1,022 RPM on 6 Volts D.C. A lot of computer stuff runs on 6 Volts D.C. The fans are CHEEP, paid $2.97 for it.
Bill W.

ursus · 02-09-2016, 12:08 PM

My car came with an Otwell Health Heater, which I removed because of an unhealthy crack that leaked exhaust into the car. I wonder if there is another brand of the removable type that will line up to match the former Otwell hole in the firewall?? I don't like running an Otwell in the heat of summer, when there are heaters that can be removed and replaced as needed.

2manycars · 02-09-2016, 02:04 PM

Bill, the pizza heater is brilliant. Be carefull the seat does not catch to flame!

Bjerg_Menneskene · 02-09-2016, 08:13 PM

I have the same door on my Coupe and it is for an Otwell. I ended up getting a bit of exhaust pipe and cutting it out to fit over the manifold and holding it down with some hose clamps. It probably does not get as hot as the real thing but it is easy to remove for summer driving.

taffrail · 02-09-2016, 09:00 PM

I agree it looks like an Otwell, I have one in a 30 tudor with a diverter hatch on top for the summer. Nice and warm for the occasional winter cruise in New England.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 02-10-2016, 04:46 AM

I wrestled with the thought of cutting a HOLE in Minervas' beautiful firewall??? The firewall was REALLY TOUGH, I had to buy a QUALITY, $17.00 hole saw, to cut it. I saved the plug, in case I ever wanted to put it back to stock----Gregg THREW it away +*%@%#$
Bill W.

Rickjz · 02-10-2016, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

In Minerva, I added a computer case fan over the inside outlet & it DOUBLED the air volume. It would even keep the PIZZA HOT!
Bill W.

Did you ever have to reboot the fan to keep it working?

BILL WILLIAMSON · 02-10-2016, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickjz

Did you ever have to reboot the fan to keep it working?

NOPE, Rick,
I had it hooked to my fuel pump wire & it ran anytime the key was on. Of course, I had my ignition re-wired to a "HOT SWITCH" system.
Bill Arcing

Roger V · 02-10-2016, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

No, Dave, it's 6 volts. I found a chart on the computer fan & it runs @ 1,022 RPM on 6 Volts D.C. A lot of computer stuff runs on 6 Volts D.C. The fans are CHEEP, paid $2.97 for it.
Bill W.

Very innovative!

Terry, NJ · 02-11-2016, 12:44 PM

Hey Bill, I thought I was the only one who did stuff like that (saving the plug)
Terry

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

I wrestled with the thought of cutting a HOLE in Minervas' beautiful firewall??? The firewall was REALLY TOUGH, I had to buy a QUALITY, $17.00 hole saw, to cut it. I saved the plug, in case I ever wanted to put it back to stock----Gregg THREW it away +*%@%#$
Bill W.

02-02-2016, 11:06 PM	#2
Gary WA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Clinton,WA/Whidbey Island Posts: 4,104	Re: Exhaust manifold heater The one on your firewall-There is no real location as per say the previous owner had a different type of heater and placed at that location to fit his unit is my guess. Does look lower due to the bending of plate inside. __________________ www.whidbeymodelaclub.com

02-02-2016, 11:12 PM	#3
cw253748 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Clinton, WI. Posts: 49	Re: Exhaust manifold heater I believe that is a otwell health heater

02-03-2016, 03:01 AM	#4
DougVieyra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Eureka, California Posts: 1,716	Re: Exhaust manifold heater Difficult to say what kind of heater was on car previously. I have seen several different heaters with a firewall door similar to your photo. One is my own Otwell Heater & Firewall Door. Yours looks similar to my door, but my original door has the name "Otwell Director" heavily embossed on the director cover. As mentioned on previous post, I too think your firewall hole was meant to line up with the Otwell Manifold Health Heater, as that particular combination manifold/heater unit fits with more of a straight alignment than does most other heater covers with their raised neck at the rear. Last edited by DougVieyra; 02-03-2016 at 03:06 AM.

02-07-2016, 10:49 AM	#6
Rickjz Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 10	Re: Exhaust manifold heater Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks for everyone's help. I purchased an Otwell from a local forum member after he contacted me. Awesome guy!! I have installed it and am enjoying a heated cabin!

02-07-2016, 12:38 PM	#7
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Exhaust manifold heater In Minerva, I added a computer case fan over the inside outlet & it DOUBLED the air volume. It would even keep the PIZZA HOT! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

02-09-2016, 11:20 AM	#8
dave11 Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lillooet BC Canada Posts: 59	Re: Exhaust manifold heater Bill, I'm geussing yor car must be on 12 volts?

02-09-2016, 12:08 PM	#10
ursus Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,375	Re: Exhaust manifold heater My car came with an Otwell Health Heater, which I removed because of an unhealthy crack that leaked exhaust into the car. I wonder if there is another brand of the removable type that will line up to match the former Otwell hole in the firewall?? I don't like running an Otwell in the heat of summer, when there are heaters that can be removed and replaced as needed.

02-09-2016, 02:04 PM	#11
2manycars Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern CT Posts: 2,732	Re: Exhaust manifold heater Bill, the pizza heater is brilliant. Be carefull the seat does not catch to flame!

02-09-2016, 08:13 PM	#12
Bjerg_Menneskene Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 15	Re: Exhaust manifold heater I have the same door on my Coupe and it is for an Otwell. I ended up getting a bit of exhaust pipe and cutting it out to fit over the manifold and holding it down with some hose clamps. It probably does not get as hot as the real thing but it is easy to remove for summer driving.

02-09-2016, 09:00 PM	#13
taffrail Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Hingham, MA Posts: 135	Re: Exhaust manifold heater I agree it looks like an Otwell, I have one in a 30 tudor with a diverter hatch on top for the summer. Nice and warm for the occasional winter cruise in New England.

02-10-2016, 04:46 AM	#14
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Exhaust manifold heater I wrestled with the thought of cutting a HOLE in Minervas' beautiful firewall??? The firewall was REALLY TOUGH, I had to buy a QUALITY, $17.00 hole saw, to cut it. I saved the plug, in case I ever wanted to put it back to stock----Gregg THREW it away +%@%#$ Bill W.* __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"