I hate to keep bugging you guys, but you seem to have all the info. I have looked at LMC Truck and Sac Vintage Ford for a new heater core for my 51 F1, but it seems that they only have 53 and up. I plan to install A/C, but it won't be until Spring and believe it or not, it does get a little chilly in Georgia, so I would like to have some heat.
Unfortunately with the advent of plastic radiators, Athens no longer seems to have a radiator shop, so I'll have to break down and buy new.
Thanks,
doug

 

Seems a shame to waste any money on a heater that you won't need in less than a year.

How about this? Since you know you want to install AC in the spring, install the heater part of it now. You could install the under-dash box, electrics, ducts, controls now and use the heater over the winter.

Then, in the spring, install the compressor, condenser, dryer, etc. Voila!! The best of all worlds and no wasted money.

I love it when a plan comes together...

 

Don't worry about it. I do it all the time. They like it; it makes 'em feel smart!

 

That's on account of: They ARE!

Bailed me out a time 'er two, as well.

 

MOM! They love me... they REALLY love me!!!!




(and some of them may actually believe the BS I post.)

 

Heaters and heater cores aren't a complex system, a little radiator with air blowing thru it. If you are looking for a temp solution my answer would be measure the one that's in there now, then if you insist on spending money go to the local parts store and spend time looking thru their catalogs for something close, or go to your local boneyard and pull out a few. Take em home, stopping along the way at your local DIY store and pick up a sheet of foil faced 1/2" rigid insulation board and a roll of aluminum foil tape (and possibly a pack of fresh blades for your utility knife... and a box of bandaids if you're that sorta craftsman).
Now the fun part! figure out a mounting for the core that puts it between the fan and you when you're inside the truck and run a couple heater hoses to it. Use your creative side to cut up the insulation board and tape together a box for around the thing. Doesn't have to be beautiful, just relatively air tight (and sealed around the core so the fan air has to go thru it to get warmed), except for a hole for the hot air to come out into the cab. Could even make a little door with tape hinge (and something to hold it closed, I'll leave that for you to figure out, don't want to spoil all your fun!) so you can close off the hole and force the air to go out the defroster ducts instead (You did remember to cut a couple holes on the downwind side for the defroster hoses didn't you?). The foam board is really light so you don't need much to hold it in place under the dash.
If you want you could draw some lines on it with colored sharpie pens and even make up a brandname for it!!!! Heck you may get so many comments on it that you might decide to forgo the AC unit and leave it in or design a box for it!!!

 

You definetly win for "most creative response"

I lucked out and found an old man who used to be in the radiator bizz and now works from home. I'm gonna drop off mine in the morning and he's gonna spend his day and a few of my dollars and fix it. Hurrah!

 

<Tom Hanks in "Big"> "What's the fun in THAT?!?!"

 

Sorry to burst the creation bubble, but it's......well.....sometimes I like to take the easy way out. I did rewire my 6 volt fan and put in a big ole resistor this afternoon. Ya know, when they made it a 12 volt system, they left it wired the way it came from the factory, positive ground. I wonder if the previous owner ever realized that the fan was running backwards?

 

Shoulda left it that way, wouldn't need AC since you'd be blowing the heat outside!

Serious note: be very careful using wire wound resistors instead of a voltage regulator. They get VERY hot and can easily start a fire if they are too close to anything flamable.

 

Not to worry, I've been around electronics long enough to take precautions. I wish I had thought about leaving it running backwards. Wouldn't that put too much heat up by the right headlamp? I guess I could install a cooling fan there or just drive faster. hahaha

 

I was thinking about using a set of 6 volt running lights in series with my heater to drop the extra voltage. They would have two power supplies in parallel one would be the heater being on and the other would be a switch to turn them on.

 

Doug, not sure if it's worth doing anything for the short term, but the typical heater motor from other Ford products, especially the Econoline vans, up into the 60's at least is virtually identical physically to the one in your truck, and they are 12v. It isn't hard to adapt them if your heater is a Ford heater. Is it a Ford or aftermarket?

 

My heater is "Magic Air". I think I'm gonna be fine with the motor the way it is for the winter season this year. Like I said, come next spring it's A/C time! I thought about the suggestion that was made about going ahead and installing the interior portion of the A/C unit and waiting on the compressor, condensor, drier etc..., that may be the best route of all.

 

try napa i bought one through them about 2 years ago dont know if they can still get them carquest has limited avalibility on some parts to