Heater install: in progress

[randyscycle]

Finally after over a year, I decided to get my heater install started. I worked on getting the heater itself mounted and plumbed today. Here's what has been done so far:

First I started with an M151 heater unit. Just the box and blower:





Next I decided that putting it under the hood was the best place. I didn't want to clutter the floor, and run coolant hoses inside. I also didn't want it on the firewall, so I did my install ala Deuce with it mounted on the fender and then ducted into the passenger compartment. I chose the location for the stock battery on the civvy trucks:



Next I plumbed the coolant hoses into the core:



The last item is a heater plenum from a 70 Chevy pickup. This will be mounted in the cab and with a duct from the heater unit will provide either floor or defrost. Very simple, yet clean:



Next week or so I plan on finishing the install, and I will post up more pics then of the finished product and let you all know how it works out.

[fng]

Looks nice and good place to put it too.

[amphi]

Randy,

Do you plan to run multiple speeds and if so how?

[Snuffy]

I supposedly have a military HI-off-LOW switch I picked up from Saturn Surplus. Haven't finished my build yet, so I haven't had a chance to test it out.

[randyscycle]

Randy,

Do you plan to run multiple speeds and if so how?

For the moment, because it is a 24V motor and my truck is 12V, I am just going with an on-off switch, but I do plan on finding a 12V motor. When I do, I found a switch that claims to be a three-speed switch. Upon a closer look it appears to be a rheostat. It is similar to this one. I couldn't find the one I saw the other night that had better pics:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vinta...Q5fAccessories

The 24V motor runs at a pretty good speed on 12 volts, so I will see how it does pushing air into the cab, particularly for the defrost.

[amphi]

Sorry Randy -- that was a leading question.

I remembered your truck is 12v and figured this blower is 24v.

Was just curious, with your creative ways, how you were going to bump it up to 24v for high speed. I know you could do it if you had the desire.

Thanks for the reply

[Roy]

Looks like you are well on your way. Good looking install.

[brute4c]

If it got as cold there as it gets here, the length of runner from under the hood there to the cab would drop the temp in the duct by enough to know all about it...

[gimpyrobb]

Looks like you re-oriented the blower output. Is that going to get a 90 to direct the output toward the firewall?

[randyscycle]

Well I got back to it today (sooner than I expected) and found a switch. It was a NAPA part number HC6332. It is a resistor style self contained 3 speed switch with two connections:



And the back:



I also hooked up a flexible duct from the heater to the firewall. I used 2.5" diameter and it worked well. A 2.5" exhaust reducer at the heater blower outlet and a 2.5" pipe through the firewall worked excellent:



Its in the 30's here today for a high and with everything hooked up on high the heater will run you out of the cab. I don't have the plenum installed yet or the defroster, but it moves enough air in the cab even with the 24V motor running on 12V to do a fine job keeping it warm. I did also move the blower motor slightly to get a different angle of output. Looks like it will serve my needs just fine.