At 08:19 AM 2/5/96 -0600, Geoff wrote:
>David,
>I was wondering how the lower radiator heater would work, I just tried to
>put in a tank heater and am finding it to be more difficult than
>anticipated. Fittings don't fit, block drain is plugged (even thoe I
>cleaned it out this summer) .... Maybe I'll just put in a lower rad. hose
>heater. Part of this is for convience, I want the car to come to heat
>quickly so I don't have to freeze most of the way to work.
>I did stick on a magnetic heater under the oil pan last night and the car
>came to temp within a mile of home, no great shakes thoe, it's 45=B0 F this
>morning, instead of the -5=B0F that it was over the weekend.
>
The lower radiator hose heater is just a tube with a small heating element
inside.=20
As I mentioned, it is the smallest size commonly available, 1 1/4" diameter.
Its length is just small enough to fit between the radiator and the engine,
with a generic rubber hose making the connection on both ends.
Now that I think about it - I think I actually purchased this one in the
late seventies. At that time, it was listed as being the correct radiator
hose heater for the MG. Then in the early eighties, I noticed, when
searching for a freeze plug heater, that they no longer listed any style of
heater for the MGB. Yet this particular heater was still on the market (and
still is I am pretty sure).
To be sure that my mind has not deteriorated too far, you may want to verify
the 1 1/4" diameter of the pipe and perhaps the maximum allowed length so
that you know it will fit before purchase. Or if you can't get to it, I will
be pulling my engine (either out or forward) in a few days to repair my
clutch and I can be more definitive then.
The element heats the coolant, and by convection, the coolant and engine
will be warmed in as little as an hour. Its very efficient. The freeze plug
heater should be faster if one can be found as its closest to the engine and
the cylinders. If anyone knows where one can be found, let me know - it
would install much easier than the lower radiator hose setup.
I tried the circulating heater pump that fits in the heater line on my
Toyota Landcruiser but it was worthless. Since it was thermostatically
controlled, all it did was heat up the heater line. It also had to be
installed below the water level, a difficult task for the Landcruiser but
even more so with the MGB.
There are also the magnetic heater and the dip stick heaters that will warm
the block. They should also work but you would have the hassle of putting
them in place before plugging them in. With the lower radiator hose heater,
you install it and then have the plug hang just outside your grill so all
you have to do is plug it in your extension cord overnight or an hour before
use depending on temperature factors.
Guaranteed to start your car - unless your throttle cable or carb pistons
stick. But that probably won't happen unless it gets some twenty or more
degrees below zero.
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David Councill =20
dcouncil@imt.net =20
http://www.imt.net/~dcouncil/home.html =20
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