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Old 05-07-2019, 08:15 PM   #1
Ribbon clerk
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Default Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

I have a 1929, Murray Town Fordor Sedan.

The Otwell Health Heater/exhaust manifold does not line up the heat pipe through the firewall. Additionally, the choke rod seems to be pressed down to the bottom of its slot through the firewall and is hard to turn. Finally, the yoke on the manifold doesn't quite line up with the exhaust pipe yoke.

It seems as if the engine isn't aligned right on the engine mounts.

Has anyone run into this problem? Any thoughts?
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Old 05-07-2019, 08:53 PM   #2
Joe K
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Offhand I would guess something has changed with your FRONT engine mount. A rise in the front of the engine would create all three symptoms you describe.

My Otwell heater is a "connection by connection" duplicate of a stock Model A exhaust manifold. You say Otwell heater, but it could be ANY manifold? The only thing unique about the Otwell is it has the connection to the firewall which gives you the indication that something is amiss.

It is unlikely the problem is with the rear engine mounts. They're pretty solid on their rubber pads and unlikely to change. Given your car is 1929, you more than likely have a spring front engine mount. Something has changed there.

Reference the Service Bulletins Page 294 (November 1928) change over from solid mount to the spring mount which shows a good pix of what it should be. Then check yours. A lot of "games" were played in this area including rubber donuts, substituting rubber hose for the springs, or even blocks of wood - all in an effort to dampen vibration.

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Old 05-07-2019, 09:16 PM   #3
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Joe K - thanks for the quick reply. How can I find/see the Service bulletin 294? I am very new at this. The A was my father's.

Also, how does the "Heater" connect to the tube in the firewall?
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Old 05-08-2019, 10:41 AM   #4
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

See the link for page 294. https://modelagarage.com/?s=front+su...rvice_bulletin
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Old 05-08-2019, 11:08 AM   #5
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Welcome to the Barn! Pics would be a great help in this case. Like was mentioned the front motor mount could be off (collapsed over time) or maybe the manifold has sagged over time. I am voting for the former as heater manifold have a lot of metal and probably are not going to sag as easily as a stock manifold.


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Old 05-08-2019, 04:46 PM   #6
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

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I had a Otwell heater manifold on a tudor. The hole in the firewall aligned ok. When I wanted to use another heater manifold, an Autolite, it wouldn't align with the hole. So I'm guessing that the Otwell that I had required a hole placement unique to it. So, maybe your firewall hole was intended for a different brand of heater manifold.

My reason to change was to be able to remove the heater cover for the Autolite in the summer. Having the Otwell forced me to change the whole set-up for a stock manifold in the summer and then back in the fall. While that was a PIA, I'll admit the Otwell heated so well, we only kept the heater door open half way in the coldest weather.
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Old 05-11-2019, 01:03 PM   #7
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Have attached two pics.
It seems that the rear of the engine needs to be raised also.
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Old 05-11-2019, 07:43 PM   #8
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

I have an Atlas on my pickup and an Otwell on a Tudor. The Otwell is lower and has a fire wall door that curves a little at the floor. Great heat from both. In the summer you can take the top off the Atlas,the Otwell model I have has a rear door you can open.
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Old 05-13-2019, 10:00 PM   #9
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Did you see the pics I posted with the Otwell? Is the Otwell not good for the Fordor Murray Sedan? What manifold should it have?
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Old 05-13-2019, 10:20 PM   #10
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

tried to post 2 pics, jpegs, but they "failed" to upload. How can I post pics?
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Old 05-13-2019, 10:20 PM   #11
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

also tried them in PDF format. "Failed" also
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Old 05-14-2019, 09:45 AM   #12
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Ribbon,


The Ottwell will work just fine depending on where you are. As a matter of fact it will probably roast you out of the car if your car is insulated. As far as posting pics this is what I do:
Go to advanced
click on manage attachments
click on browse
click on the picture you want (it has to be under 500 KB I think in size)
wait for it complete the upload to you thread and then upload the whole thing.


Mike
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Old 05-16-2019, 05:55 PM   #13
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Mike,
I found out how to attach pics. Take a look. Is the heater supposed to lineup with the tube through the firewall? Is there supposed to be a connection like a heater hose?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_0730.JPGa.jpg (43.1 KB, 68 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_0731.JPGa.jpg (41.9 KB, 53 views)
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Old 05-16-2019, 06:47 PM   #14
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

I would have to say the hole in the fire wall was for a different type manifold heater and is not because of bad the motor mounts, it's too far off. Too sharp a bend would be needed to use any type of flex pipe.
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Old 05-16-2019, 07:42 PM   #15
Ray in La Mesa
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

It seems like each type after market manifold heater requires a different firewall hole location. I had 3 different make manifold heaters and the hole location was different for each one. You will be lucky if the existing hole in your firewall will match the heater manifold you just bought, unless you checked the location first.
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Old 05-16-2019, 08:17 PM   #16
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Without seeing the exhaust pipe and how it's mounted can't comment except could be mounted wrong or header on exhaust pipe bent.
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Old 05-16-2019, 08:22 PM   #17
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Not to run down Otwell - but after giving it a little thought I probably would not have bought an Otwell.

It's impossible to see if the interior of the heater has rusted through to the air passage - you might be sucking down Carbon Monoxide.

Meanwhile the Autolite in both versions (shroud and dedicated/finned manifold) you can remove the air passage and be sure there isn't any leaks.

I have both. I have used the Autolite. I don't have plans for using the Otwell.

Can you borrow an Autolite (probably THE MOST POPULAR and easily found) and see if the holes line up better?

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Old 05-17-2019, 07:12 AM   #18
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Default Re: Otwell Health Heater Exhaust manifold

Thank you all for your input. It all helps to understand how things were meant to be back then and how to address the problems now.
Peace out!
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