[miraclepieco]

Got my "beater heater" done today. I will finish the underdash wiring first (I need room to work under the dash), then install it on the inside firewall above the passenger's feet.

I utilized a Chevy heater core and zip-tied a 5 1/2 inch Spal oil cooler fan to it. Then JB Welded brackets onto the core to mount it on a rudimentary aluminum frame. Total expense: about $55 US.

Sure, you could get all fancy and build an elaborate heater box, but why? With the CFM this little fan pumps out, this heater should keep my tiny '34 phonebooth cab almost TOO warm!

[dallas1]

good idea.

[cboy]

Very clever. Big points for use of "stuff-just-laying-around". But in addition, this "custom sized" heater could be a very useful route for 20's and 30's cars with limited or awkward space under the dash or wherever a heater core might fit. Thanks for posting it up.

[dinger]

Clever "Outside the Box" thinking. This could be put into one of our knowledge bases. Thanks for posting

[miraclepieco]

Originally Posted by cboy

Big points for use of "stuff-just-laying-around". But in addition, this "custom sized" heater could be a very useful route for 20's and 30's cars with limited or awkward space under the dash or wherever a heater core might fit.

Exactly. The "Beater Heater" measures about 7" x 7" x 3 1/2" so will fit under dash where box-type heaters will not.

[LATECH]

It could also be a nice auxiliary heater in a van or panel or station wagon , good thinking there .

[eloc431962]

Originally Posted by miraclepieco

Got my "beater heater" done today. I will finish the underdash wiring first (I need room to work under the dash), then install it on the inside firewall above the passenger's feet.

I utilized a Chevy heater core and zip-tied a 5 1/2 inch Spal oil cooler fan to it. Then JB Welded brackets onto the core to mount it on a rudimentary aluminum frame. Total expense: about $55 US.

Sure, you could get all fancy and build an elaborate heater box, but why? With the CFM this little fan pumps out, this heater should keep my tiny '34 phonebooth cab almost TOO warm!

Awesome,


Cole

[LATECH]

The beater heater would do well in an old daily clunker where the OE core is leaking and has been bypassed because the 9 hours labor involved is not worth it to do.Like an 84 full size ford for instance 8.6 hours to r+r heater core, A car like that just used to get to work and back, probably never washed, ragged ol clunker, not worth messing with.
Dont misconstrue this as an insult by any means, lord knows it isnt. I was making the point that the beater heater would suffice in yet another application other than a cool streetrod the author posted, like a beater car.

[OneMoreTime]

The beater heater idea will work in a number of applications where someone needs something small. Here we need to do something with ducts so we have defrost on a foggy morning. perhaps something can be done that way if needed..Would not take a lot of metal skills as the thin aluminum flashing from the lumber yard could be made into ducting..

Sam

[Northstar T]

I built a similar setup for my model A, but also installed a ballast resistor in one side of the hot wire to a DPST switch on the dash. switch center position is fan off, up position is high fan speed and down is low fan speed (through the resistor). this might push you over budget , but still something to think about wile you're crawling around under the dash anyway.

[cboy]

Originally Posted by OneMoreTime

Here we need to do something with ducts so we have defrost on a foggy morning.

Instead of full ductwork, which can take up a lot of space, one can also consider the entire area under the cowl as a "plenum" and simply cut in two or more "vents" allowing the heat to get to the windshield. To improve the effectiveness, small 12 volt fans used for computer cases can be installed at these vent openings to really push that warm air up on the glass.

Although it wasn't for defrosting purposes, I currently use a computer case fan to vent the overhead console on my '32. My CD player is in this console area and I was having trouble with the player over heating and cutting out. I drilled a vent hole in the console, installed a computer fan to blow the hot air out into the cab, and solved the problem. BTW, these case fans are under $5 new and are really powerful little buggers...as well as being relatively quiet.

With Miraclepieco's heater and a couple of computer fans, I think a person could concoct a fairly decent heater/defroster system that would fit in some very tiny places.

[dallas1]

Thanks for the info cboy i was wondering if a puter fan would work and you answered that ? for me.

[cboy]

Originally Posted by dallas1

... i was wondering if a puter fan would work...

Just make sure it is a 12 volt fan. There are some fans in a computer that are 5 volt or less. I think most of the "case fans" are 12v.

[gow589]

I built a blower/heater which uses an Arduino to control the fresh air vs recirc air, the defrost, vents and floor. With the circuit I was able to change the traditional controls.

[farna]

WOW!! Now that's something -- make your own HVAC unit! I thought I was doing good when I made my own (odd shaped) gas tank for my Rambler!