VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1941 Harrison Heater Plumbing and wiring

Decided to finally install a heater I restored about 10 years ago. Is the heater for a 41? Are the plumbing parts correct for that year? What should be the electrical source (i.e. ignition switch)? Is the heater switch correct for 41? Please assume I have no idea what I am doing, so keep your directions simple.

For those who remember me from the good old days. I and my 41 are doing fine. After the Midland, MI flood I decided to commit my time and energy to being historian of our high school's football team, and continue to film Friday night football. This is my 35th season. The good news is my wife of 52 years and I are having short term memory problems so we don't remember why we get mad at each other. Last year we spent the winter in Lakeland, FL. which we highly recommend. Best wishes to you all, Mike

I was in Midland yesterday and wondered where you ended up. Glad to see you back and doing well. I can't help on your question but am sure someone will.

Dave

Good to see you posting Mike. I have a similar heater, but not installed. My 48 has a Southwind gas heater. It is not hooked up.

Welcome back. Don't know about the authenticity of your parts. I do know that you are going to need another switch and wire to run the defroster unless you are going to hard wire it to the heater switch and run it whenever you have the heater on. On my '40 the heater is wired to the ignition switch.

I'm not sure on this but let me have a go at it.

The heater and everything you show in the photograph appear correct for 1941 except the switch. I'm not so sure the brass (or whatever material it was made from) heater cut-off was original.

The heater is not the super deluxe but the next one down. The super deluxe had three bands instead of the one as yours has.

As to the switch, it is my understanding that the 41 heater, defroster, fog and back-up switches were a sort of tan (and closer to the pink used on the 1941's lower dash color) instead of the darker browns used from 42(?) and up to 48. I think it was Gene who pointed out the difference here on of the forums some time ago.

I would expect that the heater and defroster were hooked to the dead side of the ignition switch and received juice only when the ignition was on as when the engine was running. Not sure about that though.

What I am sure of is that now that I have replied that others will feel compelled to give you better advice/opinions than mine. Just saying.

Good to hear from you again.

Best,

Charlie

BTW: Nice try on the missus forgetting things you have done to upset her. They never, ever forget but instead have learned that as time goes by: what is the use of bringing it up? Or something like that.

When the heater is mounted to the firewall place large flat washers on the stud before the lock washer and nut
The power feed wire attaches to the back of the ignition switch side where that is hot only when key is on.
Will need 7 feet of black 5/8" heater hose,
switch is of the single lever flipper type. 1941 color was i bright tannish color. One switch for heater switch and on switch for defroster switch.Most switches around today are the DARK BROWN COLOR.i SEE YOU HAVE THE ACCESSORY COOLANT SHUTOF VALVE ALONG WITH THE PLAIN HOSE NIPPLE.
TO GET DEFROSTER UP TO THE WINDSHIELD YOU WILL NEED THE FLEX HOSE PLUS THE NOZZELS THAT ATTACH UNDER THE DEFROSTER SLOTS IN THE GARMISH MOULDING.
The holes are already under the lip 0f the dash for mounting a switch.

Mike

I am looking at the 1941 Chevrolet Accessories for 1941.
There were two heaters made for 1941, Super De Luxe sold for $15.50 and De Luxe for $11.50. You have the De Luxe. The heater shut of valve is also correct. The switch is not pictured in the book, but I think it is also correct.

Thank you all for the help. I will let you know how things work out as I do the work this weekend when the weather is better, no heated garage. I have procrastinated all these years because I thought I would have to remove the front seat to have room to do the work. I guess I forgot the passenger side doesn't have a steering column in the way.

I see that Gene is approaching 30,000 posts and Charlie has 6000. Thank you both and all the others who share their time and experience with others. The hobby would be impossible for so many of us without your help. Bless you all.

Mike

P.S. Yes, I will share pictures