This is all that was on my heater when I removed it. The firewall pad was sandwiched between the heater and firewall. I restored it, installed a 12 volt motor and want to mount it..........without a firewall pad for now.

The studs and heater core tubes stick WAY out. Is it SUPPOSED to have any spacers or is it supposed to just have the firewall pad spacing it out?

I guess I can just make three spacers. I'm just wondering how it is mounted from the factory.

 

It's purdy now and 12 volts. Gotta have heat this winter.

 

That heater looks nice! Did you refurbish it or did you buy it from first rider?

I would put a firewall pad in before I mount the heater. For the 53-55 trucks they make an ABS Pad that looks a lot like the original pad with precut holes. They come with insulation on the back side and they are about the same thickness as the old pads. Do they make them for 48-52 trucks?

 

I did it myself. I have way more time than money and I like to do my own work.

 

I'm fixing the truck while using it. Once everything mechanical is done I'll tear it down for paint. So not ready for firewall pad yet. I'll probably make three spacers. I just wanted to know how it came from factory.

 

Ah, makes sense then.

 

Mine is a different style "Firestone" heater but it had a spacer. Someone here should know if yours should have one. It is hard to tell but the studs on your heater do not look very long so if there was a spacer it must not have been very big. It looks like the wear marks on the heater core tube line up where they would of come through the firewall? If that is the case then there must have been some kind of spacer.

 

Scott I have the same heater the top gets a 7/8 spacer and the bottom 2 get 1 1/32 spacers
Jim

 

Dave, I can tighten down the nuts all the way to the square part of the stove bolt. The marks give me an idea of how thick the pad must have been. I wondered if I lost any spacers when I pulled all the rotten cardboard (pad) out.

Jim, thanks. I'll make some up.