50 Wayfarer heater

[DLK]

So many people here seem to know old MOPARS that maybe I can get an answer on a 50 Dodge. I found a Wayfarer sedan I really like. Unfortunately it's a California car and never had a heater. I live in Minnesota where a heater is almost a must even in April or October. Reading some of the posts searching under "heater" here it looks like Chrysler had a whole bunch of heater models in the late 40's - early 50's. For now I have two questions:

1. Were cars where the buyer did not order a heater have the firewall holes and other things (defroster ducts?) to facilitate putting one in?

2. How interchangeable are some of these. I would be satisfied with a Plymouth, Dodge or other MOPAR heater/defroster if it would fit. Being correct would be nice but not necessary if it fit and worked.

[Young Ed]

If its the same as 50-52 plymouth we could set you up with most or all of the required parts.

[greg g]

There are usually several after market heaters on ebay. Search Arvin.These are simple self containd units similar to the mopar model 36. Couple holes in the firewall for plumbing, and a wire for the fan.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=arvin&_sacat=&_trksid=m270&_odkw=studebaker+%2B+truck&_osacat=0

[DLK]

If its the same as 50-52 plymouth we could set you up with most or all of the required parts.

From these pictures it looks like the heater was under the hood rather than at the passenger's feet. Is that the way the Plymouths were?

[Tony Cipponeri]

Hey, I don't know how stock you want to be, but I would go with a Vintage Air unit like I got in my 50 Plymouth. Everything is under the dash, it has heat and defrost, just two small knobs under the dash. No cables, it works off vacuum, no controls to buy, no silly cardbord vent tube. Probably save 40 pounds of weight. Tony C

[Young Ed]

From these pictures it looks like the heater was under the hood rather than at the passenger's feet. Is that the way the Plymouths were?

Yup that looks like the plymouth setup. I'm sure we have the box for the heater core. The cardboard to the firewall is usually shot anyways but someone makes repros. I bet Dad has the control for the inside too. Only tricky piece would be the defroster ducting.

[WatchingWolf]

It's too dark tonight, but I will gladly provide any pictures of the whole set up you need. My 50 Wayfarer has Heat and defrost. The heater core is self contained under the hood with a tar paper/cardboard duct leading to the passenger compartment. Mine is torn, but complete enough to make a pattern. Not quite sure where to get the material though.

This is the only underhood picture I could find tonight.

[DLK]

Hey, I don't know how stock you want to be, but I would go with a Vintage Air unit like I got in my 50 Plymouth. Everything is under the dash, it has heat and defrost, just two small knobs under the dash. No cables, it works off vacuum, no controls to buy, no silly cardbord vent tube. Probably save 40 pounds of weight. Tony C

I am interested in either this or the stock Plymouth option if I buy the car. The nice thing is I am in no hurry, my wife can just wear a sweater and long johns this fall and I could deal with it next year. I just wanted an idea what my options were and the cost. I feel better knowing it's not as complicated or difficult as I thought.

Tony do you have pictures of your setup?.

[rolliejoe]

if you're going stock, the replacement heater duct might end up being expensive:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ALL-1949-1950-1951-1952-Plymouth-DODGE-DeSoto-Chrysler_W0QQitemZ270432008483QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ef700f923&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1171

maybe there's a cheaper source?

.

[Young Ed]

Wow I know at one time these were advertised in the back of the plymouth bulletin. I am thinking they were about $75 then. I thought that was plenty and now these are double!

[greg g]

Which is why I suggested the aftermarket type that are realatively inexpensive, readily available, easy and quick to install, period correct, and effective (as long as you don't need a heavy duty defroster.

[Tony Cipponeri]

No I don'thave any pictures, but if you can imagine two knobs on a plate hanging down from the dash that would do it. Get a Vintage air catalog and you will see the whole set up. I think it cost about 200 bucks. Tony C.

[Young Ed]

Tony could you take it one step further and use the stock control panel? The control panel pictured above is actually the cheaper one. There is a more deluxe one that most MN cars had.

[Tony Cipponeri]

Sure you could Ed, but no need for any cables it is all electric. Tony C

[Tony Cipponeri]

Oh Boy, I forgot to mention it would be 12 volt. I don't think they do 6 volt. Tony C

[DLK]

I would guess an inverter would not handle the draw that unit would need.

[48mirage]

For your torn heater duct you might try what I did. Mine had a hole in it and was a little rough where it connected to the heater core. I took a piece of 2x4 cut down to the size of the intake at the heater core end to hold it's shape, covered the 2x4 in saran wrap and then coverd the whole duct in fiberglass mat. I did about 1/2 of the box at a time and when it had dried a little I flipped it and did the other half. Next day I cleaned up the rough edges and painted it black. Had it back in the second day.

[Young Ed]

There are plenty of ways to repair them if you have one. But he's talking about putting a heater in a car that never had one so he'd have no duct at all. I think even more troublesome would be the defrost duct.