56 Heater question
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
56 Heater question
Hey folks! I just need a sanity check before I do something stupid.
My truck is a daily driver. It's pretty chilly in the mornings. I disconnected the heater hoses from/to the engine over the summer because I couldn't get the valve to shut off. I have a new valve. I am about to hook up the heater again. However, I am in the middle of body mods which will include making a patch panel to blank off the louvered fresh air intake grill in front of the passenger door.
Question: Can I blank off the fresh air grill and just remove the duct boot between the heater and fresh air grill to recycle the cab air thru the heater? Or will I gas myself? Opinions? Anyone done this?
My truck is a daily driver. It's pretty chilly in the mornings. I disconnected the heater hoses from/to the engine over the summer because I couldn't get the valve to shut off. I have a new valve. I am about to hook up the heater again. However, I am in the middle of body mods which will include making a patch panel to blank off the louvered fresh air intake grill in front of the passenger door.
Question: Can I blank off the fresh air grill and just remove the duct boot between the heater and fresh air grill to recycle the cab air thru the heater? Or will I gas myself? Opinions? Anyone done this?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
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From: Northwest Fl
My first 53 didn't have a functioning fresh air intake, or a heater as far as that goes. When I moved to Tn. I had to put one in but never added to fresh air intake. I would make sure I had a good exhaust system, but then I would do that on any vehicle.
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From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Better to have a fresh air intake for the heater, other wise there will be a greater build up of humidty in the cab by recycling the same moist air. No problem of being gassed unless there is a bad exhaust leak into the cab. 
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Michigan
Randy:
In 56 they had 2 heaters one was fresh air like you and I have and the other was recirculating air. They just had a plate to block off the inside of the louvers when the recirculating heater was used.
I removed my heater and am installing vintage air so I made a plate to block the louvers and welded studs from the outside but I am leaving the louvers.
Chuck
In 56 they had 2 heaters one was fresh air like you and I have and the other was recirculating air. They just had a plate to block off the inside of the louvers when the recirculating heater was used.
I removed my heater and am installing vintage air so I made a plate to block the louvers and welded studs from the outside but I am leaving the louvers.
Chuck
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Chuck - My heater has a cable-operated flapper door (on the front of the unit) that opens/closes the duct to the louvers. Is that what you have? Or is that the other one you are talking about? The flapper door is what gave me the idea that I could get away with not using the fresh air opening.
The comments about fogging up have me thinking though...
I plan someday to add Vintage Air also. It is not on the price radar yet.
The comments about fogging up have me thinking though...
I plan someday to add Vintage Air also. It is not on the price radar yet.
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From: Michigan
Randy:
Yes mine has the door and it was ducted to the louvers which makes it the fresh air heater. They are suppost to be the better of the two, but I have to be honest before I took it off the road for a few minor repairs (two and a half years ago) when the weather started turning cold it was parked it the garage until it was warm again (about 5 months in Michigan).
I had the other heater in my first 56, it seemed to work ok but I did have to run the defrosters when it was raining or was damp.
If it was mine I would fill the louvers (did that on my first one) and go on down the road. One good thing you can still drive yours, I sure hope to have mine one the road again this summer.
Chuck
P.S.
I like your tail light brackets
Yes mine has the door and it was ducted to the louvers which makes it the fresh air heater. They are suppost to be the better of the two, but I have to be honest before I took it off the road for a few minor repairs (two and a half years ago) when the weather started turning cold it was parked it the garage until it was warm again (about 5 months in Michigan).
I had the other heater in my first 56, it seemed to work ok but I did have to run the defrosters when it was raining or was damp.
If it was mine I would fill the louvers (did that on my first one) and go on down the road. One good thing you can still drive yours, I sure hope to have mine one the road again this summer.
Chuck
P.S.
I like your tail light brackets
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Logistics Pro
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My new Hot Rod Air/heater unit recirculates the air. The vent in front of the pass door is covered. It works fine. John
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Over the years I have used heaters that have the door to change from fresh air to recirculating and in South Dakota winters if you don't use the fresh air the moisture buildup is very bad. On a cold morning when using recirc heat you have to scrape the inside of the windshield as much as the outside!! Can't speak for all parts of the country but this part needs fresh air. Art
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Minnesota
Is there a reason you can't have both? When the door is closed so no air is coming in from outside have a hole in the interior duct work unblocked by the door. Air will then be recirculated from the interior. When you move the move the door to the open position the interior whole would be blocked. That is the way new cars work.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Thanks all -
I'm inclined towards Chuck's advice. I think I'll just go ahead and fill in the louvers and recirculate the heater air until I get the AC installed. California weather should be forgiving enough to limp by until the pocket book will allow it.
Merry Christmas.
I'm inclined towards Chuck's advice. I think I'll just go ahead and fill in the louvers and recirculate the heater air until I get the AC installed. California weather should be forgiving enough to limp by until the pocket book will allow it.
Merry Christmas.
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