Could anyone tell me how to hook this up?
Thanks,
Trever

Ok, I'll bite.

What is a block heater? You mean what allows you to plug the block into an AC outlet and actually heat up the block's fluids before starting? Or is that a strange way to mean Heater Core?



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71' 3880# with me. Big Block 402, Merlin oval heads, 10.2:1CR, TH400, 3.73 posi,
1/8th: 8.2 @ 86.8mph
1/4: 12.7 @ 107.8mph (1.93 sixty foot)
--have pulled a 1.85 sixty foot before (street tires or course).
Picture of me roasting the tires and other guy stuff (http://www.auburnextremeracing.com/drivers/mike/)
Video of me staging (smoke of course) (http://www.auburn.edu/~ledfojw/vids/mike_chevelle_burnout.avi)

That's it Mike. Basically an electric heating element that keeps the block warm, and un-cracked, for easier starts in extreme cold weather.

I think there are but two methods employeed; heat the coolant or heat the oil. Of the two, I think the most prevalent - for passenger cars anyway, are the coolent heaters. Of the coolent heaters I think the most prevalent are the ones that are installed into a freeze plug hole.

After it's installed, just plug it into an A/C source and it gives the block that warm-n-fuzzy feeling.

Trever, what kind of heater do ya have there?

Dan

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Awww, fer cyrin out loud, there's that IMPALA guy again.

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/ss3964spd?d&.flabel=fld1&.src=ph

Can't say I've seen one on a common purpose car like a chevelle. Do you live in Alaska? I've never seen one dissasembled, I'm sure it's much like a Home hot-water-heater. Just a copper element that loops a few times and heats by conduction. You could always install and electric water pump and put the heating element in/around the radiator. That way you could cycle the warm water and not rely on natrual convection means. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

I've heard of an electric blanket as well and seen the coolant type that goes inline in the radiator hose. Not ever living in a climate that required one though I would get ahold of the manufacture if you don't have directions.

Hahaha ah man i guess a "northerner" better explain this one eh? Ya a block heater is to warm up the coolant to help the engine start easier in cold weather (it can mean the difference between driving and walking). On a passenger car you will almost never find anything but a heater that heats the coolant, you won't see oil heaters until you get to larger truck or machinery engines etc.

One kind just goes in a freeze plug hole, it has a single copper loop that goes out about 3" and loops right back. It has a special plug on it, you just buy a chord that has the plug for the block heater on one end, and a regular wall outlet plug on the other end.

The other and more effective kind of block heater is a circulating block heater. It mounts inline on one of the heater hoses. What it does is heat up the coolant, and as it expands from heating up it is pushed out the other end of the heater. So over the course of a few hours it gets all of the coolant warmed up. If you buy a powerful enough heater you can actually start your car and have the temp guage have a reading on it already. Just be prepared for a hefty power bill if you don't use a timer! Once again this will come most likely with a chord attached to it that just plugs into a regular wall outlet.

BTW all vehicles come with block heaters in them up here http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif Even chevelles.

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Chris Dagenais
'71 Malibu with a home built 454! 12.7@107
"Our balls are bigger http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif"
CDE Power! (http://www.71malibu.com)

[This message has been edited by Gandalf80 (edited 10-01-2001).]

The type that goes in the lower radiator hose worked really well for me on a 69 Impala. Just cut 3" out of the bottom radiator hose and slip it in place. Two hose clamps and you're done. As I recall there were two different wattage versions when I got this one at a NAPA 10 years ago. I THINK it was 350 or 500 watts and I know I went with the smaller one. Even in sub-zero weather it worked great. The car started quick and the heater was giving warm air after about a minute. You Southern guys http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif.

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Bob Von Kaenel
70 SS 402ci TH400

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Barista:
Even in sub-zero weather it worked great.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I should mention that if you are using the type of block heater that goes in a freeze plug, you are not supposed to use them if the temperature is warmer than -10c. I personally wouldn't bother using one before that anyway.

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Chris Dagenais
'71 Malibu with a home built 454! 12.7@107
"Our balls are bigger :)"
CDE Power! (http://www.71malibu.com)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gandalf80:
you are not supposed to use them if the temperature is warmer than -10c. I personally wouldn't bother using one before that anyway.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Obviously http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif
Does a little bulb not light up in your head when you catch yourself saying, "Yeah bob, can't make it into work today; darn motor froze up again on me. Second time this week, ya know."

Walking on tennis rackets is one thing, but it'd be cheaper to build a shed and use a pot-belly stove and stoke it with wood each night. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Its one that has a hose that fastens on a fitting. The hose just comes into the side. Its about 6" tall and 2.5" wide. It came with the car. Its got a red hose that's still on it, the hose must have been cut off.

Dude, I have no idea what you were tryin to say there http://www.chevelles.com/forum/tongue.gif

I said your not supposed to use them if it's WARMER than -10c http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif


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Chris Dagenais
'71 Malibu with a home built 454! 12.7@107
"Our balls are bigger :)"
CDE Power! (http://www.71malibu.com)

malibuman, you don't have a digital camera do you? If you could show me a picture I could probably tell you how to hook it up.



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Chris Dagenais
'71 Malibu with a home built 454! 12.7@107
"Our balls are bigger :)"
CDE Power! (http://www.71malibu.com)

It's hard to describe. I don't have a digital camera. i'm trying to find a pic on the net.

It probably shows a picture in a manual.

malibu man, I think I've had one similar to yours before on another car. It is a tank-type heater that has a hose inlet and outlet, I don't think the direction of flow matters. As Gandalf80 said, you splice it into on of your heater hoses - as the water warms, it circulates throughout the block.

The block heaters are just freeze plugs with a heating element in them, prone to leaking. If yours has a hose on it, it's a tank-type.

Yeah. That's it. It goes on the lower hose?

The ones that I have used go in a heater hose. You should be able to tell by the type of fittings that go with it.

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Chris Dagenais
'71 Malibu with a home built 454! 12.7@107
"Our balls are bigger :)"
CDE Power! (http://www.71malibu.com)

Mine went on either hose, they were the same size. If they are different sizes, as some are, just use the one that fits - it won't matter otherwise.