Do I really want a heater?

[m16ty]

I've aquired a heater for my duece and was going to install it today. I was getting ready and figuring out where everything went and I started having second thoughts. Truth is I don't really know if I want it. It's going to be in the way for oil changes and basicly anything on that side of the engine. It really doesn't get that cold here and you get quite a bit of heat through the firewall anyway. About the only real advantage I can see is defrost. What do ya'll think? Heater or no heater?

 

[FMJ]

Heater, I live in New Mexico, and it works good for keeping the windshield frost free on cold mornings.

 

[steelandcanvas]

I've aquired a heater for my duece and was going to install it today. I was getting ready and figuring out where everything went and I started having second thoughts. Truth is I don't really know if I want it. It's going to be in the way for oil changes and basicly anything on that side of the engine. It really doesn't get that cold here and you get quite a bit of heat through the firewall anyway. About the only real advantage I can see is defrost. What do ya'll think? Heater or no heater?

I'd rather have it and not use it, then not have it and need it.

 

[rivired]

well i dont know about your climate(im in washington)...but my heater deff made me like it on some cold wet days...my windows were all fogged and ya..it did the job.but ur right it is a bunch of crap to install and be in the way of things.

.if i could fab things better id run a slim heater core with a blower fan attached to it inside the cab..it would be slim and compact and probly put out wAy more heat..cuz thered be no loss during air travel

 

[scooter01922]

Not that i have been out in mine everyday or anything but i have had mine turned off at the petcocks all winter. I know the hoses are not going to where they are supposed to and with the valves open the truck never heats up. Anyway, after a short drive its toasty enough in the cab for me to open the window. I dunno about the weather in TN but i would imagine that all you would need is occasional defroster use.

 

[hatteras4164]

If you want to sell the heater send PM

 

[Chevytruck]

I'd rather have it and not use it, then not have it and need it.

 

[Boatcarpenter]

As I have said before, put it in the cab.
BC

 

[m16ty]

.if i could fab things better id run a slim heater core with a blower fan attached to it inside the cab..it would be slim and compact and probly put out wAy more heat..cuz thered be no loss during air travel

Have you looked at a heater on a M35A3? Everything is mounted under the dash in them. It's a much better design IMO.


hatteras4164, I haven't made my mind up yet. I'll let you know if I decide not to use it.

 

[scooter01922]

I like BC's setup

 

[steelandcanvas]

I like BC's setup

 

[jim-m35a2]

Keeps the inside of my Deuce comply in the Winter months here in Michigan. Heater was on the top of my list when I was bidding on the trucks.

Jim
________
Vermont medical marijuana dispensaries

 

[Stretch44875]

Where are you drawing the intake air from on your heater BC? Inside the cab?

 

[Lex_Ordo]

My truck didn't come with one, and I drove it all winter here in NY this year.
As long as I was buttoned up, it didn't bother me, and we had an exceptionally cold winter. I had a concern about the rain last week, since it was chilly, only about 40, but once I got moving and cracked the window, it never became an issue. There really is a lot of ventilation with the truck having the holes in the firewall, and the drive train tunnel.

I didn't want a heater, because of the extra equipment and loss of workable space, and I'm happy without one.

 

[atankersdad]

I could not live without mine!!! When it was 6 degrees out it sure hit the spot when I would jump in the cab to warm up. I was riding around in a long sleeve t-shirt yesterday, which sure makes driving easier. These trucks are hard enough to muscle around turns and shift, and 3 layers of clothes on is not the most fun ride. There are some real creative ways to mount them that have been posted. My 2 cents !!!

 

[cranetruck]

Many (most?) of us keep these vehicles as a hobby and the more accessories the better, needing them or not.
Each system becomes a project and help keep us "off the street".

 

[Boatcarpenter]

Stretch, it draws from inside the cab. With a rag top and all the places for air infiltration there is no problem with using up all the oxygen and passing out. I can crack the vent on that side to let fresh air in also. The beauty of it is that the fan doesn't have to push the warm air from the front fender through all that cold duct in to the distribution box and try to get some to the windshield for defrost. The D box is connected to the heater box directly with the offset round connector and a short piece of ducting. You get great warm air flow and plenty of defrost. You need to flip the D box around because the warm air is coming into it from the opposite direction as with a conventional installation. I don't have welding capabilities so I had to use off the shelf bits and pieces from my local hardware store; angle iron, threaded rod etc, and nut and bolt everything together. You can see I mounted everything to two pieces of angle iron and then I hung it underneath the glove box and was able to use a couple of the captured nuts on the firewall also to secure the d box there to help prevent vibration. I used existing screws on the heater box to attach it to the angle iron. I had a plumber friend of mine put elbows on the heater core inlet and outlet so the hose would be tucked in tight to the heater. It doesn't interfere with passenger footroom either. And, it leaves the whole drivers side of the engine compartment empty for easy access. It took some futzing around to get it set up and in, but I am very pleased with the way it works.
The pics may not be how it ended up exactly but are pretty close.
One pic shows where I moved the air outlet to retain access to it.
BC

 

[cranetruck]

Found this in my files, the M35A3 heater installation.

(Right click and open link in new window for full res)

 

[Stretch44875]

Thanks BC. I'll have to check that out when installing the heater in the M108, need to keep an eye on foot room.

Dennis

 

[m16ty]

Many (most?) of us keep these vehicles as a hobby and the more accessories the better, needing them or not.
Each system becomes a project and help keep us "off the street".

That's the main reason I got the heater but the more I thought about it I didn't really want to loose access to the left side of the engine. I'm looking closely at BCs setup.