When I purchased my 39 Master 85 it came with a recent rebuilt 216 which had heater hoses installed. I hooked up to an after market heater. When the motor reaches 180 degree the heater does not throw warm air and neither heater hose feels hot. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks, Tom
The hose from the water pump goes to the top heater fittig, YES, if there is a shut off valve on the top hose instead of just a fitting the water may be shut off. Ther may not be a little handle but two big hex nuts.
This heater has both inlet and outlet next to one another, not top and bottom. There is no obvious shut off, I will look again for what you have described. Thanks, Tom
I'm trying to picture "next to each other". If, somehow, they are both connected to the same fitting they will never move any coolant so no wonder you don't get any heat. The top hose connects just below the thermostat housing. The bottom hose connects to the side of the water pump. Hot coolant pushes out by the thermostat housing, after being heated by the engine, into the heater core and is pulled back into the water pump through the bottom hose.
Last edited by Tiny; 12/28/2303:56 PM.
VCCA Member 43216 Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. 1938 HB Business Coupe 1953 210 Sedan
The hoses aren't red any longer Gene thanks to your advise. The engine is also the correct gray now too. Those are the only two places to connect them. The upper connection is on the "push" side and the connection on the side of the pump is the low pressure "pull" side of the pump. I think I have some better pictures on the other computer but it's off for the day. I'll try to remember to look tomorrow.
VCCA Member 43216 Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet. 1938 HB Business Coupe 1953 210 Sedan
Tom the hose off the high point of the core goes to the lower radiator hose or water pump inlet, the lower core hose goes to the thermostat housing or a "T" fitting at the rear of the head where the temp guage fitting is. That way there is positive water flow. You could put a shut off valve at either or both ends so that the heater is not operating in hot weather. Tony
To the OP, the photo below shows my engine following rebuild, being put back in the car. You can see the heater connections clearly. The large radiator hose connection and the smaller heater hose connection 3-4" above it are on the inlet side of the pump. You can see the upper heater hose connection on the lower thermostat housing with the shut-off valve. It is on the "push" side of the system. Effectively you can plumb the hoses to either side of the core and the heater will blow hot air. Just make sure you don't have both hoses connected to the same side of the system. I'm also posting a link to the '38 repair manual that shows the coolant flow. (Yes, the red hoses were replaced with black after this picture was taken)
This might not be a factor. That does not appear to be a Chevrolet accessory heater.
All of the Chevy heaters I have seen have the hose connections aligned vertically. Also, the mounting studs are also vertically aligned above and below the hose connections.
With respect to hose routings the hoses are supposed to be long enough that they are attached to a support on the inner fender. Also the hoses do cross. The upper hose from the engine connects to the lower heater nipple. That flow pattern means that the hot water flows upwards through the heater core. This means that cooler water is returned to the engine.
Last edited by Rusty 37 Master; 12/29/2307:03 PM. Reason: More info
Thanks Gene and others, one last question, does the water flow to the heater from the water pump? In other words is the water pump a pusher or puller? Thanks, Tom
The water pump draws water from the radiator (and heater when connected and turned on) and pushes it into the block, the flow then goes to the head and out the thermostat back to the radiator. The heater supply is taken either off the back of the head or the lower thermostat housing prior to the thermostat so it has hot flow all the time. Tony
