heater under 2nd seat - 4x4Poet -
 

I'm curious about the location of the pull lever. My 4x4 has a hole in the dash that is now covered with a cheap plastic plug that I assumed the PO had drilled for some reason. It is located slightly above the ignition. Is this the correct location for the lever? I also have some device that almost looks like a shutoff valve attached with factory style clamps on each heater hose. Could that be part of the rear heater system too?

This truck has nearly every option including the spotlight...maybe there were more and they were removed...

I have also heard about an electric heater mounted in the rear... My 2wd used to have one of those.. so says the PO. Stock or aftermarket? Truth or fiction?

Thanks for enduring my questions.

My rear heater is hot water. Its begining to leak in the core. I dont know where one might find a core and I could possibly see them removed for that reason. Mine has the valve in the heater hose like you said. There was no hole in the dash,but rather a 2 speed fan switch under the dash. I dont think the switch was a factory installation. Anyone got one of these rear heaters for sale in good shape?

You might want to check a marine store. The boat I used to have had a cabin heater which ran off the closed cooling system (coolant). It looked like a small radiator with 2 side by side electric fans. Each fan had it's own toggle on the dash.

The rear coolant heater has its pull switch thru the metal part of the dash in the lower, drivers side corner near the drivers door. Basically at or just above where the drivers side A/C register would go. Simple two speed pull switch with a white, cylindrical knob that looks like a little thread spindle. First position is high speed; second position is slow speed. Its fan pulls interior air thru the core.

The unit itself is pretty good size. I haven't ever removed it, but I'm pretty sure its bracket holes line up with captive nuts in the floor for easy mounting. I haven't verified that factory captive nut setup, though. Hoses come up thru the floor underneath the heater unit. They "T" off of the main heater core hoses with "Y"s that angle the hoses back towards the inside of the frame to run along the passenger channel until past the xfer case where they can curve towards the middle of the body. The rear heater hoses have slip covers that insulate them from heat and abrasions. No separate heater hose shutoff valve involved. BTW, the heater tucks under the 2nd seat so its always out of the way.

Nice option, IMO. If I had a digicam, I'd have posted a pic. :(

Is it mentioned on the options placard?

Nope. I just went out in the dark with a flashlight to look. I did make a mistake in my post. The heater hoses come at it from ~1 ft to the pass side of the heater and hook to the side of the heater unit. The heater could be aftermarket (meaning not a factory option), but I also checked my K10 burb just now and, although it has no rear heater, it does have two ~1.5" holes in the rear metal floor at the same place as the holes thru which my K20 burb's rear heater hoses enter the "cab" on their way to the rear heater.

Perfect floor hole size for a grommet with an opening for 5/8" inch hose. I didn't look close enough to see if one hose is 3/4 and it's been years since I replaced the corroding metal "Ys" with plastic ones from NAPA, so I don't have the hose sizes down. Obviously, one must be 5/8"

Certainly, my K20 burb could have a rear heater from another burb, but why would the factory put those hose-sized holes in both my K20 and K10 burbs' floors under the 2nd seat if not for heater hoses? I still need to check the mounting bolt/nut arrangement. Rained today– and now.

It's a great addition, factory or not. Wish I had one this morning :) I'd just like to know what all the options were. I'm not big on factory correctness, but it's interesting to know. I'll look to see if mine has any sign of accommodations for one.

hmmmm... I don't have such holes in the metal floor of my burbs???

Both my 4x4 burbs were Montana trucks. Maybe both had rear heaters put in, but only one still had the rear heater.

They're dealer-installed.

Bob

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...77n/AUXHTR.jpg

Just for details' sake, mine doesn't look like what's pictured the the service manual. Mine's rectangular with a portion thicker than the core. Wouldn't surprise me if the manual's pic is just one of several heater mfrs' offerings.

Mine looks just like the one in the pics, but it is installed behind the wheel well, drivers side.

Is yours a panel like the svc manual heater location lists?

My truck with rear heat is my 1969 Chevy Suburban, from Montana.