[AT] cold weather vehicles

[Ronald L. Cook]

They were pretty popular around here. Western Iowa.  I personally never 
had one in a car.  Mine had hot water, with the exception of the 
previously mentioned Ford with the exhaust heater.  I understand how the 
gasoline gets to the heater, but how does the heater get lit?  My 
Granddad had one in his 46 Ford, but I never paid any attention to how 
it got lit.  It was warm in the front seat anyway.  And it got warm much 
quicker than than my Grandmother's 48 Ford with the hot water heater.

Ron Cook
Salix, IA

Robert L. Holtzer wrote:
> The heater had a small diameter copper tube feeding gas from the 
> carburetor.  Just drilled a hole in the top of the float bowl for the 
> gas line.   A copper vacuum line tapped into the intake manifold (a 
> plate under the carb) and provided suction for pulling in gas and 
> also provided the exit for exhaust from the heater.  I installed one 
> in my 1941 Ford V8 coupe.  As I recall, there may have been an option 
> for defrosting but I didn't have it.  The control was a single large 
> knob that pulled to turn on -- probably 2 heat settings -- don't 
> recall for sure.  The car originally operated in Imperial Valley 
> (Southern California) where winters weren't too cold.  When I started 
> school in Utah, however, the heater really felt good!
> 
> Bob Holtzer
>