I am trying to figure out what I want to do for a heater in my roadster. I have a couple vintage heaters but not real excited about plumbing water to them. Has anyone had any success with putting a 12v ceramic auto heater inside a vintage heater shell? I see there are some more expensive models of 12v heaters on the market that look like they might be sufficient size to heat well but would like any input on the subject thanks
May I ask why you do not want to plumb water to them? Most old heaters were a lot heavier (thicker) metal than now. Mine had froze and was split open at a seam. My buddy soldered it up and has worked fine. adde a 12v fan motor. You can clean them out using draino type stuff (old Rod & Custom article). Done that too. Could run you out of the car! (Well maybe not with no top!!)
Picked up a cool old Olds heater that eventually I'll put in the roadster. We have a top but so side curtains yet. I don't mind plumbing it in. Got to pressure test the thing first - that Draino thing is a good idea if our core is loaded up...
your going to need a super HD alternator to run it like the old style ones they used to run the early electric rear window defrosters ( 120A) or more
The ceramic heaters are marginal in a closed car,,I've had one in a 32 sedan and it was very inefficient. Why not purchase a heated seat kit if you don't want heater hoses. HRP
Electric heat needs a lot of power; to get just 1000 watts of heat (roughly half the heat output you'd get from a conventional water-type heater) will take over 80 amps. In a open car this won't help much if at all....
Just like Crazy Steve said. We sell these things, they put out 150 watts of heat. That's a little more than a candle. ONE candle. There IS a reason there are exactly NO cars using electric heat: it doesn't work. Not "doesn't work worth a damn" but rather "it just doesn't work". Cosmo P.S. If you are that opposed to heater plumbing, may I suggest a Phoenix address??
We had an electric heater , moderately feeble output as to be expected. Have now fitted a vintage south wind with a modern core and fan ,way better with a demist tube we added .well worth the plumbing .
The size of the alternator you'll need to generate enough current to meet your needs will ba a lot uglier than a couple of shiny copper pipes plumbed to your firewall. Or run hoses, and hide most of their length in the frame rail.
If you don't like hoses get inventive about where you pick up the water. Most V8s have a water port at the back of the head blocked off by the intake tap in there and then run the other hose along the frame and T into the lower radiator hose. You could use a South wind heater.
I'm also running heated seat but I also wanted to have a heater I am just going to plumb it in with water as I have one ready to go with a new core and fan motor already thanks
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