i recently bought a 48 fi and the dash is completly stripped and so i was was wondering what all the holes are for in the dash and which switches go in each one.

thanks

 

Here you go:

 

OOOOOHHHHH Bobs got his Magic Aire Heater in there too! but those controls are labeled on the panel.

Hey Bob, is that the original Magic Aire with the motor in the fender? I know you are "up" on those heaters and may have mentioned it before. I was wondering about how you like having th etemp control valve and motor outside in the fender. Or if you have modified it at all?

 

The cab I have on my truck is from a '48-50 F-7 firetruck. When I bought the firetruck it had 3000 original miles and the Magic Aire heater in it. I assume the Magic Air was installed some time after the truck was bought. I know some times to save a buck trucks were ordered without a heater only to be fitted with one when it was realized one was a necessity, especially up here in the northern climes.

The Magic Air is a lot better unit than the original units in the '48-50 models. I have a Magic Aire sytem for all of my trucks even though they are all '48-50s. My truck originally came with the under the fender motor type heater but as usual, the motor a duct were all rotted out. My dad, when he drove the truck, tore it out and cut a hole in the firewall and the back of the original heater and bolted a heater fan to firewall to blow air into the heater. Looking back I don't think that was the smartest thing considering there could be exhaust and other nasty fumes pulled from the engine compartment. BTW, the original heater also had the same type of controls.

 

Well I'm going to bookmark this post and save it so I know who to go to at assembly time. While my truck is relatively rust free (just a bit at lower rear fenders at running board contact point, even the under fender heater motor and duct tube are complete, straight and not rusted), I've gathered the 51 - 52 heater set-up is a better way to go? I was wondering what is involved to convert; 51 - 52 intake duct, different heater, lose the control valve on the dash........ and? This way I can keep an eye open for parts while working on other areas.

 

Bob;

Do you know where the throttle cable / switch is located on the dash, right or left of the choke ?

 

Converting the 48-50 Magic Air to use a 51/52 duct would be almost impossible. It would be easy to mount it, but the 51 52 heater worked with a door to control temperature where the 48-50 had a hot water valve. The motor on the 48-50 was located in a box under the passenger side fender, and on the 51/52 it's located inside the cab in the heater box itself.

It would be much easier to just buy a 51/52 heater than to try and convert and make it work right. I've only seen one 48-50 Magic Air Blower box for sale since I started working on my 51 almost 5 years ago. You would probably be better off making a new one out of galvanized sheet metal then coating with epoxy or undercoating.

The duct is just a round metal tube and there are lots of adequate substitutes for that. Our own "firstrider" (Denny) who makes the Magic Aire rubber duct boots just acquired a 51/52 duct in good condition and is going to use it as a pattern to make fiberglass or carbon fiber reproduction ducts - preview of coming attractions, but it will probably take some time to get that set up.

Sorry!

On that throttle cable, I'm not 100% sure the 48-50 offered that, but if they did it might be between the steering column and the headlight switch - in the same position as the "Choke" **** but on the opposite side of the steering column. Here's a pic of the 51/52 placement for that.



And where it hooks up to your carb:

 

I've never had a '48-50 with a stock throttle cable. My dad had a throttle cable attached under the dash.

Here are pictures of a '48-50 I recently sold:

 

Yeah call me guilty for my part in helping hijack the thread. I just focused on the 48 conversion to a Magic Air and having recently pulled mine out, it was fresh in my mind. Between other posts that you've contributed in (like your fabbed box Julie) and the parts books in paper and CD form I have, I got a good handle on the heater & motor being in one unit vs the what were they thinking motor under the fender. I was just wondering if where things pass thru the cowl, if it was the same cut-out and bolt holes for 48 - 52. Or was there a change to the cowl with the 51 style heater.

Yeah Bob all those parts are very familiar. The ones I pulled out might be a bit cleaner. So is there an advantage to the 51-52 heater, other than the motor being in the truck and you get neat looking little doors to play with?

I went out and looked at my dash (F6) and there's no throttle cable on mine. Just a couple of holes on the left side of the column where some one mounted an oil pressure gauge for the cheby - which as of today is out. Love this weather. Looking at the book it shows throttle cables starting in '51. Looks like several improvements came in 51. I'll keep my monkey face tho' thank you very much......

 

No stock throttle cable in '48 thru '50, at least not that I have ever seen.
btw, both my F1 & F3 have the original FORD heaters and they both work well plus that FORD script looks much better!

 

In my limited experience, which is I've had a couple 50's in the past, and currently have 2 52's, I'll say they all appear to be the same. But I'm by no means, the definitive expert.

 

this is my 50merc m-68,it has a throttle cable.its right beside the head light switch.



i think it has this for the PTO as my truck has a dump box on it,witch the PO kindly cut a nice little lift hatch in the tailgate....thanks for that.

 

Mine definitely had throttle cable, just couldn't remember which side of column it was on , thanks VT.

Tom