47-55.1 1951 gmc firewall heater hose connections

[cff]

Does anyone have a pic of the heater hose connections on a 51 GMC half ton? Would be greatly appreciated.

[leegreen]

which heater? Commonly in BC I see the 'standard' or 'deluxe' being what they came from factory with. Both were options and BC trucks usually had one or the other. If your cab came from elsewhere it could have had nothing or any one of many aftermarket heaters.

The standard heater was round, mounted direct to firewall and the copper pipes protruded through the firewall. From engine side there was a large round blanking plate


The deluxe was larger, connected to the passenger side kick panel to get fresh air from exterior louvers. The heater was spaced off the firewall on inside, the copper pipe on heater core connected with short sections of heater hose to a valve that protruded through firewall. The end of the fan motor protruded through firewall where the standard heater had a blanking plate

[leegreen]

deluxe from engine side

[mr48chev]

Here are the firewalls on two 51 cabs I have (out of 3) I marked where the hoses and control valve go for both std and deluxe heaters on one and the other still has the standard heater in it.

[dsraven]

if you're doing a restoration, and need exact dimensions, a factory assembly manual may have those dimensions and exactly how it was assembled.

[mr48chev]

For an OEM heater the holes should all be there.

This is the firewall on the 51 1-1/2 ton I have (4th 51 cab I have) that has a square aftermarket heater in it but you can see the holes for both style heater hoses and bolts with the insulation padding showing behind the holes.



I'm thinking that the original firewall pads had the various holes stamped with serrations (correct term?) around where the holes would go so they could be punched out from the inside.

[dsraven]

Do you want the firewall to look original just cuz? Or do you have an original hester you want to use? Original heaters were low pressure units and hard to find parts for. If you want to use it inline with a newer engine it may not hold the 16 psi that a newer style cooling system runs at.

[mr48chev]

The Brass works sells a heater core for the Deluxe heater that will handle 15 lbs and right now is competitive with the off shore heater cores the truck trinket vendors sell. They also sell the round one but it is beyond expensive as is the one that Jim Carter sells.

https://www.thebrassworks.net/collec...h-inline-tubes

https://www.thebrassworks.net/collec...on-heater-core

https://oldchevytrucks.com/meh246.html

[cff]

Thanks guys for the pics. My truck came from Yakima, Washington and I see from the pics that it has the deluxe heater. Leegreen the pic you sent from the engine side was exactly what I was looking for. If I had to guess, that was what I was going to do for the connections.And the info on the heater core maybe not standing up to the higher pressure is good to know and know where to get one that will.
I plan on using this truck for a daily driver other than in winter with the salt. I put a 292 in it with lumps in the head, 184 valves, a Howard's cam for torque, aussie speed 4-barrel intake with a 650 Holley, dual exhaust manifolds from Tom's, 700r4 tranny, and a 64 12-bolt with 3.73 gears. I'm hopin to drive a freeway speeds when i need to. I only wish that it was a 3/4 or 1-ton for more load capacity. I did install air shocks to help out.

[leegreen]

Your gearing should be OK. my '52 with same rear axle, a 250, T5 and 235/75/15 was quite happy at 100, 110 kmh. It would easily do 120+, but that had the feel you should not try and hold it for hours at a time. Your 700r4 probably has 10% more overdrive than the S10 T5 and your modified 292 should have the grunt to make use of it

I'm just buttoning up a swap to a stock 64 292. I think the RPM range will be similarly happy. I'll probably have the torque for a steeper gear set. The 250 ran moderately well but it started leaking too much oil.
I daily drove it 3 summers, more or less May through October, 100 Km commute. Not bad for a $200 motor with a $30 Tremclad rebuild

[cff]

Hey Leegreen. Could I get your phone number? I see you live close by in Surrey. I would like to get in talk to you about swaps. You could pm me if you're into it.