Heater Delete - Fittings to Remove Plumbing?

[sworley]

Hello all,

First time poster, new Apache owner. I know I'm probably going to get chastised for this but I'm looking to remove my unsightly plumbing to the heater core in my '58. For the sake of the body, I'd rather not expose this truck to the horrors of Iowa road salt.

So what I have is the following, a hose out of these locations. Does anyone know the diameter and pitch of these threads so I can get an end cap to block them?

Much appreciated,
Sam

[mr48chev]

Unless it flat doesn't work I can't really see the wisdom of removing the heater unless you live in SoCal, or far enough south it never gets below 50. I did a lot of road trips over the passes in this state in my 48 in the 80's and even in the middle of July it gets down in the high 30's at night on top of the pass on the way to somewhere or the way home at times. Being able to flip the heater on and keep my lady warm and cozy keeps her happy.

The guys from down south should be able to show you what the delete plates look like though. A lot of trucks got shipped to Florida, Arizona and SoCal without heaters in the 50's. Given some measurements and patterns you can probably make your own out of some flat sheet metal easily enough that look oem.

[Speedbumpauto]

You don't want to cap those fittings, you want to remove them and plug them. They are both 1/2" pipe, I think. One could be 3/8" pipe. Easy enough to tell when you get them out and any auto parts or hardware store will have them. I have an original heater delete plate but have no idea what they're worth.

[Highsider]

No comment.





Welcome to the board!

[mr48chev]

I think Speedbump auto is correct. Should be 1/2 or 3/4 npt. They are just pipe fittings on the threaded end. If you have something else to drive to the store just pull them out and take them along as samples when you go to the plumbing lane of the hardware store. Sometimes you can find plugs that take an allen wrench to tighten them that look better than the regular pipe plugs with the square ends on them.

[_Ogre]

that looks like an original 6 cyl motor, it's going to be hard to get those out
probably better to loop the hose from in to out and be done with it

but i also agree with not removing the heater as that is the only means to defog the windshield
while i don't drive my truck when salt is on the road, i have driven it in below freezing weather
i was very happy to have heat/defrost

[OrrieG]

I'd use brass instead of steel in case you ever want to get them back out. Still a very standard pipe plug. Good point on the defrost, with the right humidity you can need it when it is not that cold, I remember using mine on early summer mornings when I was in East Texas playing Army...

[1project2many]

I've used my heater numerous times. Hang out at the car show a bit longer than expected and you need to defog the windshield. Head down for ice cream late in the season and the wife says "It's cold" on the way back. Fire up the truck on Sunday AM to go to breakfast and you need to clear the glass. Yep... I'd leave it installed.

[OrrieG]

Also consider that condensation will probably accumulate when it is not driven and heater would be nice for keeping it dry when you do you monthly startup.

[sworley]

Thank you all for the input! I don't know why I didn't think of shortening it and looping it back. But I appreciate the fitting info, too.

I understand the heater comments and will re-consider before acting.

[mr48chev]

One thing to consider is possibly putting on new hoses and routing them in a lot cleaner fashion than the person who put the last ones on did. That is if the heater works ok now. I've looked and worked under way too many hoods where it was all too obvious that who ever put the hoses on just went to the parts house, got two lengths of hose and stuck them on the connections with no consideration for routing them or appearance.