Hey guys, new guy here. I actually have looked through many threads here before becoming a member and decided to create an account just today to finally really be in the loop with you all as there is a wealth of information here that I’d like to be a more active part of. That being said, I currently am running into a snag while building my 51 Five Star extra truck I picked up a while back.

The issue I am having currently is the truck was equipped with a non recirculating heater, and after starting the process of swapping the rig over to 12 volt negative ground ( my original wiring was completely unserviceable so I figured 12 volt was the way to go since it had to be replaced) I can’t for the life of me figure out what to do to get the heater working. The core seems good enough, as it was holding coolant when the truck was brought into the shop. But as I have came to understand no one makes a 12 volt motor for this heater. I’d like to have some form of heat for chilly mornings as I am in Montana and even in the summer we can get a bit brisk in the early hours. Does anyone know of a solution to get these heaters to reliably run on 12 volts?

I guess another option I have is I do have a parts 51 five star extra that has the recirculating magic air heater in it which also is a little rusted up and banged up that I wouldn’t be opposed to using in my rig if that were a viable option. The truck is getting put back to original-ish but not so much so that I would scoff at running a different heater.

In short I guess what’s the general consensus on getting heat in these old girls, and is there even parts for them? Thanks a bunch in advance gentlemen.

 

Welcome to the forum! We need to see pictures of that fine 51 Extra Cab. Cool trucks! For your heater, there are voltage reducer units you can put inline from the fuse box to the switch for the 6V motor. Just be sure to get one with a high enough amperage rating that it can handle the draw of a 6V motor, because it will want a lot. I did that with mine nearly 50 years ago. My how time flies. How did that happen?

 

Welcome!

You have your terminology backwards -- the recirculating heater is not the Magic Air heater, it is the one with no connection to outside air. There are several different kinds of that heater that could be installed, frequently they were a dealer add-on and the dealers would use whatever was in stock.

But that makes things easier. I have the recirculating heater in mine and I also converted to 12v. I found a Siemens motor available many places that fits with minor modification. It is the Siemens/VDO #PM354. The shaft needs to be shortened but has the same diameter as the original motor so the fan slips right on. The mounting bolts are on the same spacing (as I recall).

My heater and the original motor (top) and the Siemens motor.

 

I did have the terms backwards gosh lol. Long days. Thank you for posting the part number there! I will give that a look. Mine looks slightly off but I’m sure it’s the same motor in there. Are these heaters better than the magic air? I just need it to knock the frost off in the am so I suppose it doesn’t need to be super stellar. And I will post some pics once I get it figured out I’m not the most phone savvy Gen X to exist

 

 

The advantage of the MagicAir heaters is that they can bring fresh air in, which helps when defrosting is needed. My recirc heater is usually only needed for about 10 minutes even on the coldest days, then I have to turn it down to about 1/2. There is plenty of heat coming off the firewall and floorboards after that. The recirc defrost all the time, as well as directing heat down towards the floor. They aren't great at defrosting but adequate.

 

Sweet! That will work just fine then. Thank you so much guys.

 

Flatheads, welcome to FTE the best Ford truck forum on the World Wide Web! You've already have received good information. This is the place to get questions answered.

Thanks for the pictures. Your truck has great looking patina.

And how did you get that great username? Id have thought it would have been taken by now.

 

Thanks for the kind words Abe and thanks for the welcome. I am very partial to the patina trucks, they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but I think they look good wearing their work clothes. The patina on my 51 is almost exactly what I wanted when I was saving up and searching so I count myself mighty lucky to have found it.

I am not sure how this username wasn’t taken, but I’m sure glad it wasn’t! Flatheads for ever!

 

Welcome! It's great to see another flathead guy here. Where in the treasure state do you call home?
What you're trying to do is the way I set up my '48 25 years ago. The stock heaters are marginal at best, especially when it hits -35F
The guys have your questions covered, but if you're up this way be sure and stop by and look at a mostly original truck on 12V neg. Generator is rewired to 12V, Starter has 12V field coils. Ran it as a daily driver for 10 years and it's waiting a fresh flathead.
Tim

 

Thanks for the welcome! I am just outside of Billings area. There’s a pretty good little group of us with flathead rigs down this way. Our little group has some nice 38-39 trucks and a few of the bonus builts as well and a few mid 40s mixed in for good measure. We go on some fun little cruises and hit up the shows around here for a pretty good time.

id love to check your rig out too. Maybe one of these days when I get my 51 back on her feet I will make a trip out that way. Haven’t been up that far in a few years at least.

 

I have the same heater that Ross has and I did just as he recommended by getting the VDO 12 V motor. Here's a link with my detailed 12 volt conversion on my 52. It should help. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...t-numbers.html

Welcome to the forum!
Scott in AZ.