V8 and liquid cooled guys..., Want to install a heater??? Here's mine Options

[Mike Bellis]

It gets cold here in Northern California often in the moorning. So I decided to build a liquid heater. First, I spent some time measuring the inside of the fresh air box. I figured I could fit a core 11x6 maximum. my son and I spent several hours at the local Pick and Pull junk yard. I settled on a Transmission cooler from a late model Ford Truck. Cooler measures 10x6.



I quick placement and I realize I need to cut! The water dam for the fan must be cut down. Make sure not to cut all of it so that it will still keep some water off the motor.



The finish cut to the dam. Ready for the lid? Not yet.

[Bruce Hinds]

I did the same thing a few years back while we lived in Colorado. It works great. I used a Ford heater core though and the water lines exit on the passenger side of the box. I don't know if those small fittings will give you the flow you need.
It does create another high spot in the system so a bleeder is required. I used a "T" in the hoses to and from the radiator.
The Ford core I used has the same size inlet and outlet, theory says that one should be greater than the other to give better draw, but this worked fine.
MoPar makes an inline control valve, I had one on a Dodge truck which is where I got the idea. I hooked the Red lever on the dash to the Dodge valve.
The Ford core is much thicker, so I had to make a new top for the fresh air box. If anyone's interested I can go out and snap a picture.