I like to drive my T through the winter when the roads are clear, so I've been on the lookout for some kind of heater. When I saw this one from Mark of Model T Haven on T-bay, I snapped it up, it arrived today:
The heater had a really period looking grille and a butterfly valve that you can swing open or closed using your foot on a lever.
Due to its bulk, it would have been very tricky to mount it to one of the upper footboards without it hitting anything, so I decided to mount it to the forward edge of the rear floorboard, between the hogshead and the exhaust pipe. It should pick up some reasonably warm air in that location, I'm going to try it as-is for now. If it doesn't pick up enough heat, I'll look at fabricating some ductwork to channel more exhaust pipe air to the unit. In any case, it has to be better than nothing (I hope)!
Mark, where are you going to get the heat.?? I see no manifold connection.
Donnie, I may add some ductwork to the manifold or exhaust pipe later.
I read with interest the comments of some folks that they remove their upper floorboard during the winter (one person even made a replacement floorboard out of a metal frame with heavy screening in it) and get good heat from the engine compartment that way, so to start with at least, I'm going to see how much heat the scoop will pick up on its own without any extra ductwork.
I'm afraid if it's not super close to at least the exhaust pipe, all it's gonna scoop up is cold air as you're driving along. I'd be ducting it to the exhaust pipe right off the bat. JMHO.
I agree with Tim, I think all you will get is cold air.
Need one of these a shroud and some flex pipe. .
Update - Well guys, you were right, with no ducting, the air coming out of the grate was tepid at best. Also, the linkage to the butterfly valve rattled horribly at speed.
So, I ran a spring to the linkage to quiet the rattle, then bought a section of flexible heat tubing at AutoZone and routed it from the grate inlet forward to the engine compartment, just behind the carb heat pipe. Big improvement!
Between the grate and the pedal slots, I think I'll have sufficient warm air coming into the cab to help during the winter.
A manifold shroud would make it even better, but I would like to keep the engine compartment mods to a minimum if possible. Right now the installation is nearly invisible if you're looking at the engine from the side of the car.
What I have always wanted to do, is take a stainless exhaust pipe. Then weld stainless fins or studs to about a foot of the pipe. Then wrap the studs or fins with a outer stainless shell. You would leave the front of the shell open or with an air scoop. Close off the rear end of the shell to the exhaust pipe. By cutting a hole in the top side of the shell near the rear end of the shell, and then weld an outlet flange to it to hook your heat tube to the floor register. By making everything out of stainless, it would be as safe from exhaust fumes as possible ..
Donnie, I think that would work well and you could put it where you want it. Front, Back or Both. If you do one, show us pictures.
Rich
VW did that years ago...old ones were mild steel - no fins. Good heat, tangy smell of oil! 40 HP fan helped too!
Don't let an exhaust leak ruin your day.
Right, and remember that exhaust has an odor, CO doesn't.
You are missing the rest of the heater. I have heaters on my 26 and 27 with a grate in the floor. Both have a hollow chamber that surrounds the exhaust pipe and has a funnel bringing in fresh air. They have s outlet pipe that ties into the grate and will run you out of there unless its really cold.
Donnie, this heater may give you some ideas.
Rich
I recently acquired a nos Arvin heater it is missing the floor grate, i think i can make something from a regular floor register.It would be nice to have an original.
Rick
The mention of VW reminds me that for a car from a cold place like Germany the Beetle sure has a sorry excuse for a heater. You're freezing when you start out and for a long way after. You're starting to thaw about when you get to where you're going, if it's a long enough trip. An accessory electric blower improves things considerably.
I dunno Steve. My mom's bug always roasted us. Warmed up fast when garaged. Your garage, I don't think so.