what is this bit on my heater for?

[disasterbus]

Never paid much attention to it as this is my first Chevy truck, but there is a round bit like a flag pole holder on top of my heater.
Last week Martin (mjh1965) and Rian (grizz1963) came over and gave the truck a once over. None of us know what that bit is or what it does.



My truck is a '64, their's are a '65 and a '66, but neither of their trucks has that bit on top of the heater box.

What on earth is it?

[Mike Wessinger]

Never seen that before. My guess is something a PO added to maybe use as a prop rod holder for the hood.

[cv65]

Looks like you got yourself a custom hood holder upper! made from the head of a floor mop,just cut a short piece of mop handle to hold hood up,Its called Yankee ingenuity!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Mike Wessinger

Never seen that before. My guess is something a PO added to maybe use as a prop rod holder for the hood.

The placement of it would not allow the type of leverage needed.

Originally Posted by cv65

Looks like you got yourself a custom hood holder upper! made from the head of a floor mop,just cut a short piece of mop handle to hold hood up,Its called Yankee ingenuity!

It seems to be an original fitment part, there is no "rough cutting" or such there.

If I recall correctly, it is also hinged.

[markeb01]

My guess is also that it is some type of bracket that originally connected a wooden handle to some type of mop or broom head. I agree it’s too far back to serve as a hood prop, but maybe it was used to hold up a sign or small flag that identified the band during gigs. My guess is the only one that identify what it is for, would be the person that installed it. I’ve never seen anything similar on another 60-66 heater.

[pimpston65]

I think it's to prop up the trap door to clean debris off the heater core...

[Captainfab]

Neither that piece or what appears to be an additional cover plate are original GM parts.

[cooperhw]

You guys don't know what ur talking about.

"That's a nick nack Patti Black, give the frog a loan".

[63burban]

Silly me, I thought it was a pistol holder

[luvbowties]

I'm agreeing w/the Cap'n on this one. PO used whatever he could find & utilize to easily fix his problem. Thinking he needed less/more heat or blow from fan to go into a particular location inside cab. If it worked, he probably only had to adjust [or remove] it twice a year to stay better warmed or cooled or defrosted, as called for at the particular season.

Just think: in our region, a comfortable ride beats sweeping many times over! And we won't even mention vacuum cleaning!
Sam
Try removing it and see what difference it causes. Then we will all know.