Re: 1939 Super Eight heater

Posted by HH56 On 2016/11/7 12:10:10

As I understand it there were basically 3 switch control/configurations for prewar heaters. Different switches depending on heater installed. As the second illustration shows, on some models the switch was vertically mounted in the edge under the dash with just a knob showing. On other models the switches were mounted in a plastic cover under the dash edge with the knob facing the interior. I believe those were primarily the 40-42 models and were styles shown in the illustration. There is an additional type I have seen for the reversing switch similar to the upper illustration but I have no photos. Someone else might know which style was specific to a year or heater. Since dealers installed heaters, if he had one on the shelf with a switch that was for a later year nothing would prevent the dealer from installing it in an earlier car if the customer wanted it.

If the deluxe heater/defroster was installed the switch was the reversing type. If a separate heater and defroster was installed then the switch was non reversing and could be a simple on off or a rheostat or the discreet two or three speed type.

Here is an illustration showing some of the plastic covers and another showing a typical heater installation. If the car never had a heater installed there were plugs that had to be removed from the head and the water pump to install the fittings for water hoses. The head is the hot water out to heater port and typically had a valve at that location so water could be turned off in summer. I believe (at least after the mid 30s) the fittings were for 3/8 pipe x 5/8 hose.

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