Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

I was wondering if anyone here had fitted a heater to their classic car? Perhaps there was not one originally?

[MVPeters]

50 years ago!
1936 Austin 10.
I found a little round Smith's heater at a junk yard. Cut holes in the top & bottom hoses & clamped in T connectors. A couple of bits of probably Dad's garden hose, pushed somehow through the firewall.
Thermo-syphon system.
It didn't do much.
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

[peter scott]

Yes, my SS was never fitted with a heater when new. Fortunately it has an alloy water manifold with relatively flat sides so it wasn't too difficult to drill it and fit a hose connector. For the other connection I found a convenient bottom hose from a Vauxhall Firenza that had a 1/2" T connection on it.

With your TC you might need to solder a couple of pipes into the header and footer tanks of the radiator although a closer location to the water pump might be an advantage so the T off the bottom hose might be more efficient.

After the war the rather similar MkIV Jaguar came fitted with a heater (or air conditioning as they called it) so I used the same type of Clayton heater and also the fittings for passing the hoses through the bulkhead, one of which includes a tap.



Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Ray White]

Thanks for the diagram Peter. I like the Clayton heater but I don't think it will fit in the MG. I need to find a very compact unit. I would have thought the problem with plumbing into the radiator is that the heater wouldn't start working until the engine is up to temperature. Then again the bypass loop (which was my first thought) is apparently closed off when the thermostat opens. That kind of leaves the hoses - or as I have seen in photos - direct connection to the head.

Plumbing aside, I recently took a look at electric heaters. What amazed me was the amount of power they need. One I looked at which seemed to meet my requirements was rated at 500 Watts ! With a 45 amp alternator at 12 volts, there would be a rapid discharge - or at least that is how I calculated it.

[peter scott]

Maybe you could fit a Wolseley 4/44 head? It looks as if it has a take-off at the back.



Or could you drill and fit a take-off at the plate on the rear.



http://www.mg-tabc.org/library/heater.htm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MG-HEATER-RESTORED-fr-MG-TC-MG-TD-MG-TF-MG-TF1500-ROADSTER-TRUCK-or-RAT-ROD-/133136615281?nma=true&si=mf07UfShdKZPWkWP13h0ssgbeHU%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Ray White]

HEy Peter

I have just had my original head overhauled and converted for lead free. It has been shaped and ported for use with my Eaton M45 supercharger. (Rootes type) and has TF valves with bronze guides.

However, the head has plain blanking plates at either end to which I could easily fit a takeoff point and control valve.

[Longstroke]

Or alternatively, what about a flying jacket and longjohns?

[Ray White]

[alastairq]

If the teecee is anything like my Dellow...you won't need anything like a heater for tootsies.....the amount of heat emanating from the engine bay [being in close proximity, and all that] will likely become overpowering after a while.....real plimmy-melting stuff!
Uprate the dynamo, and wear heated socks?
_________________
Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
----------------------------------------------
Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[ukdave2002]

Fitted one to the MGA, as it was a factory option it was all straight forward, that said its pretty redundant as I never drive the car with the hood up

[Ray White]

[Mog]

Small round heaters were fitted to Landrovers as an extra . They were in the cab and had two little doors that you could open . You might be able to get one from a Landrover [early series 2 ? ] wrecker .

[Ray White]

[Longstroke]

I've a small Smiths heater in my Riley (sounds similar to LR one) which sits under the dash. Use it mainly for the demist facility. There are kit car ones that are very diddy, but not sure how effective they are. If you Google homemade car heater there's a U-tube showing how to make one out of a lunchbox(?!) and proprietary small rad - very simple to make from memory.

[Ray White]