I have a cool old heater in my Model A. It had a 6 volt motor, so someone before me had rigged it up with a ballast resister to cut down the 12 volts. It worked fair, the core was in great shape, case and doors nearly perfect. Then the motor started to fail. I had to reach behind and kick start the fan with my finger to get it to start spinning. Also after a couple minutes it started making a bunch of noise. So, I opened up my Northern tool catalog and ordered up a small 12 volt fan. They have several sizes. I think they are called muffin fan or biscuit fan. I got this one for about $8. I always use old roadsigns for my aluminum, because I can buy it cheap from the salvage yard. I made a little plate to mount the fan on, then riveted it all together. Now, my heater works like it should. Nice and quiet, and puts out plenty of heat. Most importantly, the heater doesn't look out of place in an old car, and it was CHEAP.
Cool post. I think, from my finds, that most computer cooling fans are 12V, and there's a free obsolete computer on every block around here on garbage night. Another heater idea: Many old heaters like that one need big mounting holes because they use big hollow mounting harware around the tubes. Remove hardware, cut off tubes short, run tubes straight down with home plumbing copper ware and out through top of toe board. Use small clamps to firmly anchor the new down tubes to heater frame so they are not stressed or shaken in use, bolt heater in with small normal bolts through firewall.
Yes Bruce, I'm pretty sure thats what this is. For the price it was just too convienient for them to size it for me, and pull it.
I used an old Arvin heater with a 6volt fan. Under the louvers I made a couple of coils of nichrome wire I salvaged from an old clothes dryer. I used a voltmeter to find points on my coils that were 9 volts and 6 volts when 12 was applied at the other end. These points were wired to a 3 way + off switch. Now the old Arvin has 3 fan speeds (6,9,12 volts) plus a small amount of heat is available instantly at lower fan speeds. Its not enough to warm the car but its enough to defrost the windows. 12 volts won't hurt the motor as it pulls half the current.
If you go to napa and find someone who knows what they're doing, there's a book with a list of part numbers, dimensions, and specs on blower fans. I found a perfect 12v match for the heater in my '47. Bolted right in.
This is crazy... I JUST picked up one of these today for $7 out of a 42 Dodge farm truck. The only thing on the truck that wasnt dented. ITS PERFECT. I will be doing this soon. Thanks
The Jalopy Journal
