How to install a Manifold Heater?

[jchochole]

Hey Guys,
I am a new Model A owner and want to add an Autolite heater cover on top of my manifold. I realize I need to remove the dist. to get this iron cap on top of the manifold.

Can anyone give me a warning about anything I need to careful when pulling the distributor? I really don't want to screw anything up.

Thanks,
Jim in Oswego, IL

[stewwolfe]

I never took the distributor off to put my heater on. There are various designs of heaters. How about posting a picture of the heater you have and we can answer your question more accurately.
Stew in Richmond

[jchochole]

That's a good idea, Stew – here it is. It is an Autolite which used two vertical bolts to hold down. It is going on a 1930 Tudor.

[Quigley1930]

Maybe I have something else that's wrong but I ground away a little of the cover that seems to hit the distributor when installing. Doesn't hurt anything but for me makes it really easy to install.

Sewall

[jchochole]

Can I see what you did? Do you have the ability to snap a pic?

Thanks,
Jim

[Tom Wesenberg]

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I have a cover like that and can install it without removing the distributor. Just tilt it a bit and it should squeeze by the distributor. Do you have a stock distributor?

[jchochole]

Yes – it is a stock distributor. So you think it will just squeeze past? I'm not so sure, it has a rather large thick lip on it.

[George Miller]

I have been using my heater cover for 16 years. It is a tight fit but it will go on.

[JohnLaVoy]

Are you installing the Autolite that fits on the waffle style manifold, or the one that fits on the standard manifold?

[John Stone]

If your manifold is surfaced at an angle or just surfaced too many times, putting on a heater cover can be difficult. I had to grind quite a bit off of one because of that. It does work.

[jchochole]

Thanks guys, I have a waffle manifold. I'll see if maybe grinding a little will work.

Thanks for the tips!

[Quigley1930]

Don't have a photo but just grind a tad off the bottom of the flat angled part. It was no problem on the pickup Daddy bought new, maybe that's the reason

Sewall

[jchochole]

All set – thanks to your help and guidance – the manifold is in place and pumping beautiful heat into my 1930 sedan! Amazingly it heats it up very quickly – that's wonderful. My next step is to find a small one and a half to 2 inch connection hose to seal up between the manifold and the firewall.

Does anyone have a reliable source for this connection pipe?

Thanks,
Jim

[Marvin/TN]

Check with you local FBO (Fixed Base Operator) at you local airport. You can probably find something aircraft related.

[jchochole]

Is that "FBO" in layman's terms where people would know what I am asking about...because it is totally Greek to me. How does one even start to find a FBO?

[bbrocksr]

Originally Posted by jchochole

Is that "FBO" in layman's terms where people would know what I am asking about...because it is totally Greek to me. How does one even start to find a FBO?

Fixed Base Operator.

[jchochole]

bbroksr,
I literally only have about a 1/2" to about 1" of gap between my firewall vent port pipe and the inside bell of the exhaust heater manifold. Is there some sort of flexible tape or wrap that can bridge that gap or seal it just a tad more?

It ain't much but it might get me more efficiency.

Thanks,
Jim

[Tim B.]

You may be able to use some hose clamps and 1-1/2" ID heat riser preheat tube (There is also 2" tube that may work better depending on the diameters of your heater and valve). Check with your local parts place. Some sell it by the foot. It's the black or silver flexible spiral tubing used on 1960's to 90's cars to connect the manifold heat riser to the air cleaner. Tim

[Quigley1930]

I cut a strip from some leftover flashing wrapped it around the gap and it's held in place with a hose clamp.

Sewall

[jchochole]

Thanks, I did just that- I cut some simple sheet metal into a rectangle, rolled it around a clock weight and coiled it into the dash port and then into the manifold heater...tah dah! It ain't beautiful but it works! I'll get 100% of my heat now.

Thanks guys- you have all been super helpful!
Jim