I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tx Firefighter · 04-23-2009, 10:39 AM

I got tired of sanding on my firewall today, so I thought I'd do a different little project for a break.

I decided to restore my heater since I had to remove it to sand and paint the firewall.

I think my 63 has the basic heater option. The whole heater assembly is contained under the dash rather than in the engine compartment.

I forgot to take any before pictures, but it was 46 years old and it looked it.

I disassembled it completely and powdercoated all of the sub parts. The main case is silver vein with clear and the smaller pieces like the fan and such are gloss black.

I really suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder as you can likely tell. I'm the kind of guy that will spend all day restoring parts that are impossible to see, like the blower fan below. Oh well, when all is said and done, it should last another 46 years amd look better than GM ever made it look when new.

This morning I decided to order the needed parts to do it up right. Stuff has sure gotten expensive. A new blower motor (mine was seized), a new heater core (my was leaking a bit), new resistor and gasket kit ran me 125 dollars.

I ordered from Classic Parts of America. I seem to have read mostly good things about them, and my only other option appeared to be LMC, which I prefer not to order from unless necessary.

So, now I am waiting for my parts to arrive to reassemble everything. I will post an update on this thread when they arrive.

joe231 · 04-23-2009, 10:41 AM

COOL!!
looks very nice

I love Classic Parts, BTW

kizer · 04-23-2009, 04:42 PM

Wow that looks pretty good. Thats what I fear after I get mine torn down. I'll get so over the top on pickiness that I'll never get it back together. Heck I spent 2hours chipping mud and dried up grease off my steering box that well I was taking off to put back on later. Its clean now I guess, but is it really clean enough.

Its simply amazing how nice those parts turned out too.

**Corts60** · 04-23-2009, 06:15 PM

I really like the paint you chose for that. I too suffer from the OCD......

Tx Firefighter · 04-23-2009, 06:21 PM

No paint there friend. I powdercoated everything.

rustyescott · 04-23-2009, 06:37 PM

hi. sorry to contact you this way ,but have sent severl pm's no answer. but could you contact me offsite, at 817-915-6679 or rustyescott@yahoo.com
rusty escott

Tx Firefighter · 04-28-2009, 09:51 AM

Finally got the parts in last night. Very quick delivery. I have found another vendor to add to my list of sources.

New heater core installed in the housing...

More soon. I'm off to the hardware store.

chucks1967 · 04-28-2009, 10:18 AM

That looks great! do you do special orders or just around town business?
There are no good powder coaters around here that do work worth the $

austex66 · 04-28-2009, 10:54 AM

I recently resotred mine and had good luck getting parts from Classic. I bet the powder coat will standup well over time. Looks great!

*LILRED66* · 04-28-2009, 11:12 AM

TX:

I have bought several fan blower motors and discovered that O'Reillys is less than half the price of LMC or Classic Parts. I live in Kansas City and both are within 20 minutes of my shop, so I have the luxury of seeing the part before I purchase it and save on shipping.

The O'Reillys part number is PM102 and it is a Siemens VDO unit. It even comes with the small plastic caps that fill the motor housing hole. The mount is correct and the connector is correct in size, style and location. This motor is $19.95, plus tax, which is substantially less than the same unit sold by LMC and Classic Parts.

FYI, your work looks great and I replied to your request for the plenum box on the Parts for Sale forum. Please let me know if I can help and nice job on your heater assembly. It will certainly outlast the original GM finish.

MacAttack · 04-28-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I really suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder as you can likely tell. I'm the kind of guy that will spend all day restoring parts that are impossible to see, like the blower fan below.

Wow. I thought I was the only one....

Tx Firefighter · 04-28-2009, 12:51 PM

A bit further along.

I got it all basically assembled. I had to make a trip to the hardware store. All hardware is new stainless stuff. I also used locknuts with built in star washers on the motor nuts. That way to motor housing is sure to ground through the unit. Weak grounds cause folks more headaches and they are so very easy to avoid.

Lilred, I did see your response in the parts thread. I just can't spare that amount of coin right now. I will have to unspot weld my current plenum, repair the bent areas, reweld and coat. Sorry man. I have lots of time and much less money. I am still needing a front frame crossmember from you though.

Tx Firefighter · 04-28-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucks1967

That looks great! do you do special orders or just around town business?
There are no good powder coaters around here that do work worth the $

Sure, I'm a paying board vendor, so I can pursue any work that members want. I've been told my prices are very fair. But, I warn you, I do this because I love it, not for the money so much. I prefer to work on projects that mean something to people. If I get the idea someone is just looking to resell their truck or not into the hobby for the long haul, I'm not much interested in doing work for them. I prefer to think that the customer will keep my work and enjoy it for a long time.

Nothing frustrates me more than to pour my heart and passion into parts for someone, then they trade the truck for a Honda next month of something.

**Captainfab** · 04-28-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LILRED66

TX:

I have bought several fan blower motors and discovered that O'Reillys is less than half the price of LMC or Classic Parts. I live in Kansas City and both are within 20 minutes of my shop, so I have the luxury of seeing the part before I purchase it and save on shipping.

The O'Reillys part number is PM102 and it is a Siemens VDO unit. It even comes with the small plastic caps that fill the motor housing hole. The mount is correct and the connector is correct in size, style and location. This motor is $19.95, plus tax, which is substantially less than the same unit sold by LMC and Classic Parts.

FYI, your work looks great and I replied to your request for the plenum box on the Parts for Sale forum. Please let me know if I can help and nice job on your heater assembly. It will certainly outlast the original GM finish.

Hey Tony, is that fan motor part number the correct one for the recirculating heater that TX has or is it for the '64-'66 deluxe heater

*LILRED66* · 04-29-2009, 11:31 PM

My bad, it is the Deluxe-Air heater fan motor for the 4-5-6. Sorry for the error and thanks for pointing it out to me. I don't deal with the '60-'63 truck too often, so rookie mistake.

BTW, the assembly looks awesome, TX.

04-23-2009, 10:39 AM	#1
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box I got tired of sanding on my firewall today, so I thought I'd do a different little project for a break. I decided to restore my heater since I had to remove it to sand and paint the firewall. I think my 63 has the basic heater option. The whole heater assembly is contained under the dash rather than in the engine compartment. I forgot to take any before pictures, but it was 46 years old and it looked it. I disassembled it completely and powdercoated all of the sub parts. The main case is silver vein with clear and the smaller pieces like the fan and such are gloss black. I really suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder as you can likely tell. I'm the kind of guy that will spend all day restoring parts that are impossible to see, like the blower fan below. Oh well, when all is said and done, it should last another 46 years amd look better than GM ever made it look when new. This morning I decided to order the needed parts to do it up right. Stuff has sure gotten expensive. A new blower motor (mine was seized), a new heater core (my was leaking a bit), new resistor and gasket kit ran me 125 dollars. I ordered from Classic Parts of America. I seem to have read mostly good things about them, and my only other option appeared to be LMC, which I prefer not to order from unless necessary. So, now I am waiting for my parts to arrive to reassemble everything. I will post an update on this thread when they arrive. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin Last edited by Tx Firefighter; 04-23-2009 at 10:40 AM.

04-23-2009, 10:41 AM	#2
joe231 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmer, Alaska Posts: 13,821	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box COOL!! looks very nice I love Classic Parts, BTW __________________ *CHEVY ONLY*

04-23-2009, 04:42 PM	#3
kizer Its Deja Vu time again Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Marysville, North of Seattle WA Posts: 815	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box Wow that looks pretty good. Thats what I fear after I get mine torn down. I'll get so over the top on pickiness that I'll never get it back together. Heck I spent 2hours chipping mud and dried up grease off my steering box that well I was taking off to put back on later. Its clean now I guess, but is it really clean enough. Its simply amazing how nice those parts turned out too. __________________ Its not pretty but its mine to figure out. The build / The Photos / Build Diary

04-23-2009, 06:15 PM	#4
Corts60 Just here to tinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Holland, MI Posts: 3,689	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box I really like the paint you chose for that. I too suffer from the OCD...... __________________ 78 C10 SWB Diesel #1 (wrecked)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...1978+silverado 78 C10 SWB Diesel #2 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=650751 60 GMC Suburban (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=445526 60 GMC 1000 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=298235 67 GMC 1500 (sold) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=803695 86 Suburban(summer unit) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=810697 88 Suburban 4x4(winter unit)https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...25#post8900725

04-23-2009, 06:21 PM	#5
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box No paint there friend. I powdercoated everything. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

04-23-2009, 06:37 PM	#6
rustyescott Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: clifton tx Posts: 209	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box hi. sorry to contact you this way ,but have sent severl pm's no answer. but could you contact me offsite, at 817-915-6679 or rustyescott@yahoo.com rusty escott

04-28-2009, 09:51 AM	#7
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box Finally got the parts in last night. Very quick delivery. I have found another vendor to add to my list of sources. New heater core installed in the housing... More soon. I'm off to the hardware store. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

04-28-2009, 10:18 AM	#8
chucks1967 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: athens alabama Posts: 93	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box That looks great! do you do special orders or just around town business? There are no good powder coaters around here that do work worth the $ Last edited by chucks1967; 04-28-2009 at 10:23 AM.

04-28-2009, 10:54 AM	#9
austex66 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 78	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box I recently resotred mine and had good luck getting parts from Classic. I bet the powder coat will standup well over time. Looks great! __________________ 66' Chevy SWB:350ci-th350,frt. disc brakes, pwr steering, 5-lug waltshow.com/Chevy

04-28-2009, 11:12 AM	#10
LILRED66 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 3,906	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box TX: I have bought several fan blower motors and discovered that O'Reillys is less than half the price of LMC or Classic Parts. I live in Kansas City and both are within 20 minutes of my shop, so I have the luxury of seeing the part before I purchase it and save on shipping. The O'Reillys part number is PM102 and it is a Siemens VDO unit. It even comes with the small plastic caps that fill the motor housing hole. The mount is correct and the connector is correct in size, style and location. This motor is $19.95, plus tax, which is substantially less than the same unit sold by LMC and Classic Parts. FYI, your work looks great and I replied to your request for the plenum box on the Parts for Sale forum. Please let me know if I can help and nice job on your heater assembly. It will certainly outlast the original GM finish. Attached Images Last edited by LILRED66; 04-28-2009 at 11:14 AM.

04-28-2009, 12:51 PM	#12
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box A bit further along. I got it all basically assembled. I had to make a trip to the hardware store. All hardware is new stainless stuff. I also used locknuts with built in star washers on the motor nuts. That way to motor housing is sure to ground through the unit. Weak grounds cause folks more headaches and they are so very easy to avoid. Lilred, I did see your response in the parts thread. I just can't spare that amount of coin right now. I will have to unspot weld my current plenum, repair the bent areas, reweld and coat. Sorry man. I have lots of time and much less money. I am still needing a front frame crossmember from you though. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

04-29-2009, 11:31 PM	#15
LILRED66 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 3,906	Re: I started on little sub project today, restoring my heater box My bad, it is the Deluxe-Air heater fan motor for the 4-5-6. Sorry for the error and thanks for pointing it out to me. I don't deal with the '60-'63 truck too often, so rookie mistake. BTW, the assembly looks awesome, TX.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.