Dual heater setup

[casey]

Speaking of the dual heater core setup-- I want to add the driver's seat heater core to my GT Hawk and need some insights. I've got the core- what else do I do? Do I just add the second core to the circuit that the pass. side core is on? And if so, how do I get over(or under) the hump? Someone told me the driver's side core had an electric fan-- hints anybody?

[N8N]

I have to ask, why? I was driving my '55 on Saturday and it must have been 40 degrees out, if that. I was nice and toasty within half a mile. I was actually fairly impressed with how well that heater warmed up the cabin, even though I don't have any carpet, door panels, or any of the other stuff that tends to insulate you from the elements. I don't think the engine was even up to full temperature (running a 180F thermostat) and I could still feel the toasty warmth. Now I did just clean/fix/replace just about everything having to do with the heater, that probably helps. I will bet that those old paper hoses are nice and leaky on most cars that haven't had them replaced; I got a new plastic one from Dave Thibeault at Reedsville.

Now if you're one of those guys that just likes adding accessories to a car because you think it's cool... well... um... I can't really argue with that

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
62 Daytona hardtop
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

[rockne10]

I would have to agree. Even in the coldest weather I usually have to turn the fan off after only a few minutes. If all ducts are intact and the core is clean that heater can cook you out of the car and the vent door supplies enough air to the core you don't need the fan.

[Dwain G.]

I used to think the auxiliary heater was a rare option. In reality there are quite a few Hawks equipped with the left side heater because the bucket seats block normal air flow. Since you have an under seat heater on the right side, you must have a '62 (or early '63) Hawk. That car uses kit AC-3033, and there is an installation sheet and template that should come in the kit. It does have a blower motor, and the switch goes under the dash, left or right of the steering column depending on whether you have air conditioning or not. The heater hoses go under the floor pan and must be clipped tightly against the floor tunnel.

Dwain G.

[blackhawk]

quote:Originally posted by casey

Speaking of the dual heater core setup-- I want to add the driver's seat heater core to my GT Hawk and need some insights. I've got the core- what else do I do? Do I just add the second core to the circuit that the pass. side core is on? And if so, how do I get over(or under) the hump? Someone told me the driver's side core had an electric fan-- hints anybody?

Sheesh, 40 degrees. I agree you don't need auxillary heaters at that temperature, but they sure help when it is below zero. I put an auxillary heaters under the passenger seats in my '64 Cruiser, '63 station wagon, and '61 station wagon. These are Haydees (spelling) and look identical to the ones shown in the parts manual. I think they are 12000 BTU. That auxillary heater makes a BIG difference if you live where there is serious winter. A friend (now deceased) had them under both front seats of his '63 Hawk and he bought the car new so they may have been factory installed. Unfortunately, I never looked at how the hoses were run to the heater under the drivers seat. I have often wondered how they routed those. I haven't installed auxillary heaters under the driver's seats of my cars because the existing under the dash heater favors the driver, plus it is easy to route hoses to the right front seat. I would put them under both front seats of my '63 Hawk if I used it during the winter. The heater core for that model is too small for the car. The core on the Lark models was enlarged after 1960 and then the heater did a much better job of keeping the interior of the car warm. That small heater on the 59-60 larks works pretty well on my Champ pickup where it doesn't have a rear seating area to heat and that is about the limit for it. The '63 and 64 Hawks have this same small heater and it is no where near enough for the size of the car. All the original equipment aux heaters or the nearly identical aftermarket ones that I have seen have a fan. It wouldn't be much use without one.

So, Casey, you must have a '62 Hawk since you are talking about the drivers side and not the passenger's side. The '62 still had the main heater under the seat with the blower fan up under the right fender (generally speaking, it has been awhile since I have seen one). I say, go for it and let us know if you find a tidy way to run the hoses or find old literature that shows how it was done. I may still want to put some in my cars. I've had quart cans of oil sitting on the floor behind the drivers seat get so cold that I had to pry the oil out with a screw driver sort of like getting peanut butter out of a jar. Course, it was -60 that day in 1976 when I was driving to Anchorage with my newborn daughter all bundled up in a basket on the back seat. She was the only one that stayed warm that day. That trip convinced me I needed to do two things: (1) get rid of the downdraft tube (it froze up and the resulting pressure blew most of the oil out of the engine and onto the underside of the hood where it stayed until I got the car into a warm garage) and (2) install an auxillary heater! Good luck and stay warm... Dale

[Buddy1944]

I must also add that my heater under the seat of my '54 works better than great, even the bride compliments this feature. On a slightly different subject, the '55 I'm using for parts had a deflector above the core. It was about 6 inches wide and not quite as long as the core and was mounted about three inches above the core. The front mount on this one was rotted away so I sat it aside. My question is, would this unit make the system even more efficient.

Buddy...'54 Champion 2dr

[N8N]

Maybe I'm a wussy, fair-weather Studebaker owner, but I can't imagine driving a C-K body when it's below 40 degrees out - the thought of road salt getting thrown up into those nice, clean front fenders gives me the screaming willies. Just one guy's opinion...

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
62 Daytona hardtop
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

[casey]

Thanks Dwain. Just what I needed. Yes, I have a '62. Took me ten years to restore this Hawk, so I plan to drive it into the next ice age.