Engine heaters - cold weather starts

GrimGreaser

I'm looking at getting an engine heater for the Hornet, anyone have any recommendations? Anyone have a part # or size for a freeze plug heater? How about the circulating tank heaters? Can't really think of a good way to plumb one of them.

My cars a real bear to start when it gets around 20°F, takes a looong crank with the throttle full open to go. Above 30°F or after sitting though the day after the morning drive it starts right up. Chokes are worn out too, gotta set them by hand everytime.

[Deleted User]

I would ask why not fix the choke but that would be rude . However the easiest heater is a dipstick heater if you can find one . Next is a mag netic one to stick to bottom of oil pan . As far as a more permenent item one in the lower radiator hose is quite simple to do
Roger

hudsontech

Forget about a dip stick heater - don't put out enough heat to do any good what-so-ever (I know from experience having lived many winters in Maine).

Best bet is a tank type heater that taps into your heater hose. Check this one out at Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/7fak69p

The 1500 watt unit would be good for a 308 block due to its wattage- on the Rambler 6's I used mine on I used either am 850 or 1000 watt type. V-8 cars I had I used 1200 or 1500 watt units. Used to get almost instant heat out of the heater too.

I used these type for years on my cars up there in Maine and never had a starting problem.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

GrimGreaser

Eh, the chokes aren't a huge hassle rights now. I'm leaning towards making them manual anyway, and my spending money for car parts is tight. I just got a freeze plug heater, we'll see how that works.

hoggyrubber

i have the freeze plug style in both of my chevy sixes, i love them. it has to be pluged a while to warm up, but it makes starting a breeze. i think it is a lot easier on the engine. i plug mine in anytime it gets close to freezing and i am going to start it up. the first one i got was made in canada and a little nicer. i had to replace a core plug in mu 308 so i could get a dorman part # when i get off work tonight if you need it.

GrimGreaser

600W heater for 2in hole from carquest (Katz) part #78266. We'll see how it goes in tomorrow.

J Spencer

Remember, any engine block heater works much better if plugged in right after the engine is shut down and the coolant is still warm so it doesn't need to warm up from cold coolant

Jim Spencer
WNY/Ontario Chapter

Ha, just remembered my father throwing a blanket over the engine and putting a high watt bulb under the car aimed at the oil pan while the engine was still warm on his 1933 Ford. No garage so the car was outside all the time

hoggyrubber

i think the second one i got was a katz, had a little hassle not spinning the element inside when expanding it. it works ok though. i remember as a child my grandfather putting the coals/ashes from their potbelly stove under the oil pan of his old ford truck. them there fords must have needed a lot of tlc to start on cold days.:evil:

Hudson Grandpa

J.Spencer:
Great story. I have a new engine. Went out oneday, saw rust on the bolts of the head. Knew the humidity was getting to the parts. Car just carported, not garaged. How can I stop this. Okay get a nice big towel and put over the top of the engine so that it emcompasses all cylinders, plus coil and the distributor.
Used to have a Chevy Van. Come out in the morning to start it, nothing. Pulled the cover over the engine, looked at the distributer, moisture up the wazoo. Go in the house and get the hair dryer, and spend 10 minutes getting the distributor dried out. I now keep a towel over the engine, but when I want to start it, I have a shop lamp that has one of those long thin element bulbs, that puts out a lotta heat. I stick that under the car,(oil pan) for about two hours. It helps but, I cringe when I watch the oil pressure gauge try to make it's way to 30-40lbs of pressure. So I splurged (ha) and got the dipstick heater.

[Deleted User]

When I was in Jr High school dad had a 61 international 4x4 truck he drove every day. And in the winter it would start fine down to "0" .If it got colder than that there was no way you were going to get it to go. You could jump it , tow it , cuss it ,kick it. Nothin worked.
What he finaly found was a two part warming system. A dipstick heater along with a drop light under the manifold. It had a high rise manifold and you could put something between the vally pan and inteke manifold . A moving blanket was used to hold the heat in over the motor. This was a little 266 V-8
Doing this allowed it to start and run reliably no matter how cold it got in the morning,
Roger

brumac

In 1955 I didn't know a dipstick heater from a softplug heater and used to hook another 6 volt battery in series for 12 volts to get my '47 Ford coupe started in a New England winter. Once the engine spun and started, the extra battery was disconnected, engine restarted and let run in neutral for a while as the trans had 600 W gear oil in it and had to be circulated (or pushed out of the way). Kind of wish I had that old coupe now!
Bruce

GrimGreaser

Am I mistaken in my measuring the core plugs at 2in? F-in thing leaks like a goddamn seive.