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1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Magic Air Heater

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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 10:34 PM
  #1  
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Magic Air Heater

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
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 10:55 PM
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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.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 11:00 PM
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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...
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 11:09 PM
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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.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 11:12 PM
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Originally Posted by gearhead1952
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.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 11:14 PM
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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.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 12:04 AM
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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.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 04:11 AM
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Wow... thanks. Bob!

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

~Jason
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 08:50 AM
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Here's the tubes. Further testament to the superiority of the '51/'52 designs .






 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 08:58 AM
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They look... just... crimped together!!!

~Jason

Originally Posted by truckdog62563
Here's the tubes. Further testament to the superiority of the '51/'52 designs .
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 09:01 AM
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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!
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 09:19 AM
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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.



 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 06:25 PM
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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
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 06:51 PM
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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.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Abomination
They look... just... crimped together!!!

~Jason
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.
 
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