central52 Posted June 4, 2015 Author Report Posted June 4, 2015 (edited) Ok. well I connected the two lower hoses together and clamped off the hose running from the water pump. Here's a pic. Ran car till it reached hot operating temp. No leaks, so far so good. Ed Edited June 4, 2015 by central52 Quote
central52 Posted June 5, 2015 Author Report Posted June 5, 2015 I'm thinking about that shutoff valve from Andy Bernbaum. I can't see how it would work. Notice my pics, there's an outlet that goes down into a canister, and then into the lower engine block. What's that all about? Ed Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 5, 2015 Report Posted June 5, 2015 Are there any electrical wires feeding that canister? Can you post a photo of where it goes into the engine block? Quote
Young Ed Posted June 5, 2015 Report Posted June 5, 2015 I'm pretty sure Don was headed the same way I am. That looks like a block heater. If it was my car that stuff would all be removed. Just a bunch of extra plumbing to get in the way and more sources of leaks. 1 Quote
_shel_ny Posted June 5, 2015 Report Posted June 5, 2015 Open that bunny ear control valve, and clean/repair. It does not work properly at this time, so nothing to lose. Quote
central52 Posted June 6, 2015 Author Report Posted June 6, 2015 I think you're right about it being a block heater. Traced a wire from underneath it to the front of the radiator, and there was a 3-prong plug, I guess to plug into a house outlet. Here's a pic where the hose goes into the lower engine block. . Ed Quote
casper50 Posted June 6, 2015 Report Posted June 6, 2015 Ed here you go. Spendy though and looks a little rough. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1946-1947-1948-chrysler-mopar-dodge-desoto-plymouth-water-temp-control-valve-/221793301687?hash=item33a3e934b7&vxp=mtr 1 Quote
central52 Posted June 7, 2015 Author Report Posted June 7, 2015 (edited) Yes, I saw that ebay valve and being used, who knows if it would work properly. Anyhow, how exactly does that block heater work? That canister just has electrical wires to heat the coolant? And how would it travel all the way into the block? If it works, is it a good thing to have? Or as someone has previously said, just extra plumbing that might leak. Ed Edited June 7, 2015 by central52 Quote
casper50 Posted June 7, 2015 Report Posted June 7, 2015 how cold are your winters and do you drive it in the winter? if not it's extra plumbing that will leak sometime Quote
46Ply Posted June 7, 2015 Report Posted June 7, 2015 Block heaters were not uncommon in Illinois when I was a kid. My Dad had a "well used" 47 DeSoto. He would get up about 2 am, and go out to start the car and let it warm up a bit, just so it would start again in the morning when he went off to work. Quote
Merle Coggins Posted June 7, 2015 Report Posted June 7, 2015 Yes, I saw that ebay valve and being used, who knows if it would work properly. Anyhow, how exactly does that block heater work? That canister just has electrical wires to heat the coolant? And how would it travel all the way into the block? If it works, is it a good thing to have? Or as someone has previously said, just extra plumbing that might leak. Ed We used that style engine heater on our tractors when I was growing up on the farm. They heat the coolant in that tank and convection takes over. The hot coolant rises out the top, back into the block, and cooler coolant flows back into the bottom of the tank to get heated up. Not quite as efficient as a block heater that goes into the core plug, but they do work. Merle Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 7, 2015 Report Posted June 7, 2015 Yes, I saw that ebay valve and being used, who knows if it would work properly. Anyhow, how exactly does that block heater work? That canister just has electrical wires to heat the coolant? And how would it travel all the way into the block? If it works, is it a good thing to have? Or as someone has previously said, just extra plumbing that might leak. Ed you pulling our leg aren't you...? Quote
T120 Posted June 7, 2015 Report Posted June 7, 2015 you pulling our leg aren't you...? Nice to start the day with a chuckle. Quote
Dave72dt Posted June 7, 2015 Report Posted June 7, 2015 Works the same way your Mr. Coffee does when you plug that in. Quote
central52 Posted June 8, 2015 Author Report Posted June 8, 2015 Yes, I plan to drive the car all year. (keep the juices flowing). Here is Connecticut it gets pretty cold sometimes in the winter. Last winter we flirted around 0 degrees for a while. So, my main concern right now is, if I plug it in, can anything bad happen? I don't when it was used last. Ed Quote
casper50 Posted June 8, 2015 Report Posted June 8, 2015 old wiring can always short out. Zero degrees isn't cold. Antifreeze will handle that easily. Your car your choice though. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 8, 2015 Report Posted June 8, 2015 take your ohm meter and do a full check out of the component, its wiring and the condition of said wiring for future use...only you can say for certain if it is safe after making these checks...that is unless you have a forum member close by who can visit and check it out for you.... Quote
DonaldSmith Posted June 8, 2015 Report Posted June 8, 2015 You might want to start with the 110 volt stuff. Inspect the cord for frays. Is the plug the polarized type? There should be no continuity between the shell of the heater and either prong of the plug. Between the prongs, an ohm meter should show continuity of the heater windings. Quote
central52 Posted June 9, 2015 Author Report Posted June 9, 2015 OK, guys, thanks for the info. I checked some websites on block heaters, and a lot of them mentioned using timers for them. But they said you can't just use a commom house timer, but one that can handle a lot of wattage. Is that right? I checked the wire from the canister, and it has a thick rubber coating. Doesn't seem frayed or torn. Does that canister have some kind of electrical wiring that warms the coolant? Curious as to how it does the job? Ed Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 9, 2015 Report Posted June 9, 2015 OK, guys, thanks for the info. I checked some websites on block heaters, and a lot of them mentioned using timers for them. But they said you can't just use a commom house timer, but one that can handle a lot of wattage. Is that right? I checked the wire from the canister, and it has a thick rubber coating. Doesn't seem frayed or torn. Does that canister have some kind of electrical wiring that warms the coolant? Curious as to how it does the job? Ed Ever try Google? Quote
DonaldSmith Posted June 9, 2015 Report Posted June 9, 2015 Think heater element, like the Mr. Coffee, or an incandescent light bulb. The heater element has a high resistance, and gives off heat. If the element didn't have a high resistance, the wires feeding it would cook instead. The element is electrically insulated from the water, of course, but gives off its heat to the water, or coolant. Quote
central52 Posted June 11, 2015 Author Report Posted June 11, 2015 Sounds simple, thanks for the info. Hmm, zero degrees isn't cold? Tell that to my toes, and ears. But, your right. The proper anti-freeze solution should easily handle the cold. But wouldn't a warmer engine block make for a little easier starting? Ed Quote
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