Hey - anybody got a '50 - '52 truck with a Magic Air Heater?

I'd love to see a pic... or hear of anybody with one. Are they all THAT rare?

Here's another post I did (that I should've done here):
History Ford "Magic Air" heater - THE H.A.M.B.

~Jason

 

Not a magic aire, but here's the two that were in my '48 F1. The right side one was under the seat, and the tropic was under the dash.

 

Here's a picture of the one in my 51 Panel. The controls are also original and correct. It has the original fresh air tube that mounts underneath the right fender, but it's all rusted through in places. I don't have a picture of the tube because I took it out when I removed the front clip. I put the tube in storage, but will photo it next time I'm there.





Here's a picture of the screen that goes underneath the front upper fender.



Also, from what I remember, the heater boots are different between the model years. Not sure all three model years are different... 50, 51, and 52 model years... or maybe just between 50-51 and 52... or 50 and 51-52...

 

I believe the one posted by panelman is correct for a 52. Same as the one in my 52 deluxe cab. The 51 is square. Not sure what the early years looked like but with early or late production anything is possible.

 

From the reference that I have, the one pictured in my 51 Panel is correct for 51 and 52. The earlier model was square.

 

Prior to 51 they had a blower mounted to the end of the vent tube inside the front fender at the cowl. All of them can still be found on ebay and other places.

 

The heater in the '48-50 trucks were a very bad design IMO, they stuck the blower motor under the fender so it could catch all of the water and salt coming up from the road. I have the newer, '51-52, units in my trucks. Although I have a few of the under the fender tubes I don't use them. I get enough heater by recirculating the air in the cab and I don't drive my trucks when it's cold outside anyways.

 

Wow... thanks. Bob!

Are the under-the-fender tubes hard to make?

~Jason

 

Here's the tubes. Further testament to the superiority of the '51/'52 designs .

 

They look... just... crimped together!!!

~Jason

 

Obviously I've not run them through the media cabinet yet, but probably just spot welded at intervals along the seam. No reason to over build something, you know!

 

Dont have a 51 but in the glovebox of the 56 I found a old brown folder with these owners manuals and documents for vehicles older than 1956 but here is the orignal 1951 Ford Magic Air brochure.

 

Is it the same heater for trucks and cars, but only the tubes and controls differed? Or are the controls the same on trucks and cars, and the tubes are the only difference?

~Jason

 

I've got a '52 Magic Air car brochure and the controls are totally different. Can't say for certain about the tubes and box, but the drawing would lead you think they too are different.

 

the crimping is only a problem in that that's where the water collects.

Truckdog, we should make patterns off your pieces for repro plastic ones, single piece tho.