Can you tell me if this is one of the original heaters that is in my 1951 F-1 Truck? Thanks

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal.../82335.520.390

 

Bill, I've got the same question for my 1956, but the two years are different. Hopefull, some of the experts on the 1948-1952 trucks will be by to give you some info. Tim (mtflat) or Barry, you guys have any literature to help out?

 

Many trucks had the heater installed by the dealer, so it could be "original" but not necessarily "factory". Dealers seemed to use both the Ford products and anything they liked from the aftermarket. That looks like a nice one, but doesn't look like the Magic-Aire to me. For one thing, I believe they were all gun-metal grey hammertone. I'm not the expert by any means tho.

Are the water line holes in the firewall punched cleanly, or do they look drilled? Not any guarantee but if they are cleanly punched, more likely a factory install.

 

The person to ask about your heater is Chuck at Chuckstrucksllc.com he knows these trucks inside and out.

 

That's an aftermarket heater. Ford did offer one that had 3 small doors on it, but that's not it. There was one on Ebay last week being sold as a 49-50 heater, but it was a 51-52 heater. Look and see if it's still there.

Barry

50 F-1

 

Yes, that's a aftermarket heater. My 52 has a hammered gray/silver finish with FORD stamped into face and was original heater in the truck. Some had the Magic Air fancy versions. I believe ALLSTATE produced an aftermarket heater back then also. I see the original version with FORD on E-Bay fairly often.

Dylan1952

 

Can you send me a photo of yours? Thanks

Bill

 

If yor 51 has the 5 Star cab it would probably have a Magic Air unit in it, mine does.

Rod

 

The 51-52 series Magic aire heaters had the round bumper in the case. If the case is flat with the "FORD" in script, it's for the 48-50 years. The 51 had the section off the side panel with the flexible duct assy and the 52 was moulded in rubber. The control was under the dash in a straight line. 48-50 had the cables and switch in a triangular pattern. You may see the earlier heaters in later trucks because these were stocked at the dealer and were "bread and butter" profit makers for them. They probably had a bunch in stock that they bought at a quanity price and just kept selling and installing the same ones until they ran out. It carried over from year to year. Ford still offers programs like this to dealers today.

Barry

50F-1

 

I forgot to mention, the 51-52 Magic aire emblems are hard to find intact and are worth a few $$.

Barry

50 F-1

 

Mine didn't have the Magic system which was a fresh air system. It had an intake through the side panel. Those punchouts were never removed from mine, so it would have had a recirculating unit. The service manual does mention that 51 trucks also had this unit, however it does not show a photo??

 

All the 48-52 trucks had recirculating heaters offered. I was mainly referring to the Magic aire ones as that's the ones everyone wants. Even the parts books don't show the recirculating ones. Probably 90% of the trucks never had the Magic aire heaters. I've ripped apart 6 trucks so far and none even had a Ford heater, all were Allstate, Montgomery Wards or JC Whitney units. They were alot cheaper than Ford ones when these trucks were new.

Barry

50 F-1

 

I'm sorry, I don't own a digital camera to give you a picture.


Dylan 1952

 

Barry, is this (eBay item number 4561026311) the one on eBay you were referring to? Is this what Ford was offering on the 51-52 truck as a recirculating heater?

 

George,
That is the heater I won on Ebay, hope it is the correct one??

Bill