Guys, its cold outside...
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
Guys, its cold outside...
I'm looking for ideas on how to keep the engine warm. When it is turned off, I mean. Yeah, I know you can get a plug in warmer like the diesel guys have, but what if you are where there is no place to plug in ? My '71 390 has a manual choke and starts fine, regaurdless of how cold it is. At least it has so far- it has been done to -10*F here and no problems. But the engine cools off so fast. Suppose you get in your truck and drive Mrs to the store or something. Takes you twenty minutes to get there. Then 25-30 minutes later you come back out and get in the truck to go home, and the truck is back to stone cold again. I would LOVE to get a thermotop for it, but 1K is way over my budget. What if I insulated the hood and inner fenders ? Or made a blanket for the engine ? I know some of y'all are up in Canada and it is just as cold or colder than Michigan. Any ideas on helping my FE stay warm longer than just a few minutes ? DF
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New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Guys, its cold outside...
Other than building a garage,maybe get a butler to start it every hour.
No really, Try pointing the grill away from the wind instead of towards it.
Dennis
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No really, Try pointing the grill away from the wind instead of towards it.
Dennis
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 4
From: West Union, OH USA
Guys, its cold outside...
i think would be best is take a regular plug in type and convert it to run off an extra battery. i read in another forum that the kind that stick to the oil pan work the best. does anyone know how a person would do this. it would be cool if you could plug it in to a outlet or run it off your battery if you dont have an outlet like he said. i know you guys can think of something
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Seattle/Tacoma Washington U.S.A.
Guys, its cold outside...
Warmers use alof of electricity, dont know how long DC to a battery would last...Might get a little spendy to buy a battery a week. I would sugjest geting some heat shield, you can buy it at most home stores, it is mostly used for heating vents,ducts,exc..insulate your oil pan-fenders-and hood VERY WELL... This has worked for my friend in alaska, but he didnt like it because when it got muddy or wet it would not work as well. So I would advise you find a way to waterproof it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 0
From: clementsport canada
Guys, its cold outside...
could try the insulation with the 2 layers of foil and bubbles inbetween, might stand the mud/snow/wet better, and would probably help if you used it to insulate the hood, and inner fenders. maybe stick a vinal grill guard over the front of the truck to help keep the rad from coolin the truck off as fast
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 525
Likes: 2
From: Mansfield, Texas
Guys, its cold outside...
Just a quick thought. By going with the heater plug. You could find out what the amp draw of a certain heater is. Utilize a marine battery, they can take the draw/charge beating much better than their auto counterparts. Connect an inverter to your marine battery as your heater supply. Run both batteries in series, but your wire connecting to the positive side would run through a relay that is normaly closed. Power for your relay would come from an acc. source. Only recieving power when engine is running. Hence rechargeing your marine battery.
I would investigate the goods and bads to this quick idea but, I live in Texas, and if it even reaches a low of 25 degrees it usually is breaking some kind of record.
For what it is worth,
Robert P.
I would investigate the goods and bads to this quick idea but, I live in Texas, and if it even reaches a low of 25 degrees it usually is breaking some kind of record.
For what it is worth,
Robert P.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
Guys, its cold outside...
How about a remote car starter? It won't work with a manual tranny and it wouldn't be able to start the engine cold without setting the choke but it would let you keep the engine running without the key in it and would probably restart if the engine wasn't too cold.
Just a thought
Greg
'77 F-250 Camper Special 400ci driver
'76 F-250 Supercab 360ci current project
'71 Mach I 429CJ in storage
'79 F-150 for parts
HONK if you love peace and quiet!
Just a thought
Greg
'77 F-250 Camper Special 400ci driver
'76 F-250 Supercab 360ci current project
'71 Mach I 429CJ in storage
'79 F-150 for parts
HONK if you love peace and quiet!