Power cord running from grille to engine block? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

rad-man · 07-24-2012, 04:28 PM

A buddy recently purchased a '72 C10 Suburban, and we discovered a mysterious power cord hanging out of the front grill.
After following it through the engine compartment, we discovered that it runs directly to the engine block.

What is it? Block warmer of some sort?
http://imgur.com/NVwR3

nate_g_2003 · 07-24-2012, 04:50 PM

Yep, sounds like an engine block heater. My '72 GMC Suburban has one as well (it started as a California truck, then spent a good number of years in Montana and Idaho, before coming to TX in 2003).

lowrollin70gmc · 07-24-2012, 09:24 PM

Block heater. Warms up engine via heater that replaces a freeze plug. The bolt tightens up the rubber to seal against the block.

Oh you southerners entertain me; I used to tell my buddies in Cali that my Chevelle was an electric car.

67 Burb · 07-28-2012, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowrollin70gmc

Block heater. Warms up engine via heater that replaces a freeze plug. The bolt tightens up the rubber to seal against the block.

Oh you southerners entertain me; I used to tell my buddies in Cali that my Chevelle was an electric car.

Block heaters are standard equipment on vehicles sold in our part of the world. I've even seen dual block heaters on a V-8 (one on each side).

Another item maybe not seen by our friends from the South is a plug-in battery blanket. Even with the block heater plugged in overnight, when it's 35 below zero, your battery has only a fraction of it's normal cranking power, so a warm battery helps starting on those frosty mornings.

Bob

nate_g_2003 · 07-28-2012, 01:41 PM

Wow! I never knew they made battery warmers! haha

67 Burb · 07-30-2012, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate_g_2003

Wow! I never knew they made battery warmers! haha

Here you go, Nate. Have a look.

Bob

nate_g_2003 · 07-31-2012, 09:59 AM

Nice! Sort of similar to a drum(barrel) heater! Makes sense!

I'm just glad I'll (hopefully, fingers crossed!) never have to use my block heater haha.

67 Burb · 07-31-2012, 02:16 PM

Nate said: "I'm just glad I'll (hopefully, fingers crossed!) never have to use my block heater haha."

Don't rub it in.

Bob

Mr Pops · 08-01-2012, 12:19 AM

Hot rods hibernate up here.. The Blazer still has a block heater in case I need to kick it out of the garage to work on something else.. Go figure it would dump a foot of snow when I did that!

crazyb0064 · 08-01-2012, 08:41 PM

i was thinking of throwing one in my 71 suburban, its going to be a all year round daily driver, and dont want too many issues getting it going every morning over here in western michigan. any body have advice one way or another on them?

Mr Pops · 08-02-2012, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyb0064

i was thinking of throwing one in my 71 suburban, its going to be a all year round daily driver, and dont want too many issues getting it going every morning over here in western michigan. any body have advice one way or another on them?

Most block heaters replace one of your frost plugs in your block. I usually start plugging my vehicles in when it gets to be about -15 C. Either plug it in the night before if you're starting it in the morning, or you can just plug it in a few hours before starting it. It's a night and day difference starting a cold vehicle that's been plugged in.
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07-24-2012, 04:28 PM	#1
rad-man Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 1	Power cord running from grille to engine block? A buddy recently purchased a '72 C10 Suburban, and we discovered a mysterious power cord hanging out of the front grill. After following it through the engine compartment, we discovered that it runs directly to the engine block. What is it? Block warmer of some sort? http://imgur.com/NVwR3

07-24-2012, 04:50 PM	#2
nate_g_2003 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gregory, TX Posts: 413	Re: Power cord running from grille to engine block? Yep, sounds like an engine block heater. My '72 GMC Suburban has one as well (it started as a California truck, then spent a good number of years in Montana and Idaho, before coming to TX in 2003). __________________ -Nathan- 1972 GMC K2500 Suburban "The Project" 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Z71 "The Daily Driver" 2005 Ford F150 Lariat SCrew 2WD "The Daily Driver" SOLD 1995 GMC Sierra C1500 SLE "The Daily Driver"SOLD 2003 Ford Ranger Edge 2DSC 2WD Flareside "The Daily Driver/Project"SOLD

07-24-2012, 09:24 PM	#3
lowrollin70gmc Too many projects Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fargo, ND land of the flat hills Posts: 1,147	Re: Power cord running from grille to engine block? Block heater. Warms up engine via heater that replaces a freeze plug. The bolt tightens up the rubber to seal against the block. Oh you southerners entertain me; I used to tell my buddies in Cali that my Chevelle was an electric car. __________________ Andrew 84 GMC C1500 SWB 6.2 Diesel/700R4/3.42 "Grandpa's odd duck" 70 GMC C1500 LWB My first truck: shaved, bagged, and more: the lowrollin70gmc 68 K20 Suburban 12V Cummins/NV5600/NP205/D60/11.5AAM 3.73s "Dakota Cadillac" 63 Chevy II Nova Coupe 250 I6/T56/4.56s "Economy car" 53 Willys Wagon 350/NV4500/BW4401/HP D44/9inch “Winter Wagon” 30 Model A 16 Focus ST

07-28-2012, 01:41 PM	#5
nate_g_2003 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gregory, TX Posts: 413	Re: Power cord running from grille to engine block? Wow! I never knew they made battery warmers! haha __________________ -Nathan- 1972 GMC K2500 Suburban "The Project" 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Z71 "The Daily Driver" 2005 Ford F150 Lariat SCrew 2WD "The Daily Driver" SOLD 1995 GMC Sierra C1500 SLE "The Daily Driver"SOLD 2003 Ford Ranger Edge 2DSC 2WD Flareside "The Daily Driver/Project"SOLD

07-31-2012, 09:59 AM	#7
nate_g_2003 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gregory, TX Posts: 413	Re: Power cord running from grille to engine block? Nice! Sort of similar to a drum(barrel) heater! Makes sense! I'm just glad I'll (hopefully, fingers crossed!) never have to use my block heater haha. __________________ -Nathan- 1972 GMC K2500 Suburban "The Project" 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Z71 "The Daily Driver" 2005 Ford F150 Lariat SCrew 2WD "The Daily Driver" SOLD 1995 GMC Sierra C1500 SLE "The Daily Driver"SOLD 2003 Ford Ranger Edge 2DSC 2WD Flareside "The Daily Driver/Project"SOLD

07-31-2012, 02:16 PM	#8
67 Burb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 548	Re: Power cord running from grille to engine block? Nate said: "I'm just glad I'll (hopefully, fingers crossed!) never have to use my block heater haha." Don't rub it in. Bob

08-01-2012, 12:19 AM	#9
Mr Pops Ridin' Dirty Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ardrossan Alberta Canada Posts: 2,193	Re: Power cord running from grille to engine block? Hot rods hibernate up here.. The Blazer still has a block heater in case I need to kick it out of the garage to work on something else.. Go figure it would dump a foot of snow when I did that! Attached Images __________________ 1978 C3500 Crewcab (Project) 1979 C2500 Crewcab (Driver/project) 1988 R2500 Crewcab (Driver) 1988 V3500 Crewcab 1988 R2500 Crewcab (Mint, Ex Fire Dept) 1968 Chev Suburban (4x4 conversion) LINK 1970 Chev C20 Suburban (driver/cruiser)LINK 2005 Impala (Incognito vehicle) 2004 Yukon XL Denali (Kid hauler) 1947 Case tractor Facebook Page(1000's of pictures of GM cars and trucks organized into albums) YouTube Channel

08-01-2012, 08:41 PM	#10
crazyb0064 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Rockford, MI Posts: 15	Re: Power cord running from grille to engine block? i was thinking of throwing one in my 71 suburban, its going to be a all year round daily driver, and dont want too many issues getting it going every morning over here in western michigan. any body have advice one way or another on them?



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