std vs deluxe heater

[davidh]

Im going to buy a 66 in a few days. I noticed it had one knob instead of 3 on the heater controls. Under the dash the was a knob for heat or def. I guess the one knob does the fan speed? Looks like the heater core is the same. Can someone tell me more about this? thanks

[Rogue]

Thrift heater has push/pull temp and rotate fan speed.
Your right defrost lever under dash.

Deluxe has it all in the one panel.

I have both, slight difference in the under dash unit.

I am putting a Thrift heater in my '64 for the cleaner one knob.
I'm not too lazy to reach under the dash for some defroster.

[rickf]

Originally Posted by Rogue

Thrift heater has push/pull temp and rotate fan speed.
Your right defrost lever under dash.

Deluxe has it all in the one panel.

I have both, slight difference in the under dash unit.

I am putting a Thrift heater in my '64 for the cleaner one knob.
I'm not too lazy to reach under the dash for some defroster.

Yep to all that, except I guess I am too lazy...
Mine's been in the defroster position since 1982.

The cab is small, it heats well enough through the defroster vents.

[michaudracing]

So is this a thrift heater? I know of the two lever and four lever option, but never knew where this fit in.

-Steve

[LILRED66]

Originally Posted by michaudracing

So is this a thrift heater? I know of the two lever and four lever option, but never knew where this fit in.

-Steve

Steve:

Your picture is of a '60-'63 Thrift-Air heater.

Another difference between the Thrift-Air and the Deluxe-Air heater/defrost system is:

The Deluxe-Air has a three speed fan switch and the Thrift-Air has a two speed fan switch.

The Thrift-Air heater/defrost system was standard equipment and the Deluxe-Air heater/defrost was an R.P.O (Regular Production Option) available for an additional cost.

[rickf]

Originally Posted by LILRED66

Steve:

Your picture is of a '60-'63 Thrift-Air heater.

Another difference between the Thrift-Air and the Deluxe-Air heater/defrost system is:

The Deluxe-Air has a three speed fan switch and the Thrift-Air has a two speed fan switch.

The Thrift-Air heater/defrost system was standard equipment and the Deluxe-Air heater/defrost was an R.P.O (Regular Production Option) available for an additional cost.

That's interesting... I'm pretty sure mine is the Thrift Air, but it has 3 speeds.

[SSWfleetside]

[QUOTE=Rogue;3010220]Thrift heater has push/pull temp and rotate fan speed.
Your right defrost lever under dash.

I was just wondering today how the heater worked in the '66 I brought home last week. I figured the twist for fan speed part and spotted the lever under the dash for defrost/heat.
Must be it is pull out for warm?

[rickf]

[quote=SSWfleetside;3012989]

Originally Posted by Rogue

Thrift heater has push/pull temp and rotate fan speed.
Your right defrost lever under dash.

I was just wondering today how the heater worked in the '66 I brought home last week. I figured the twist for fan speed part and spotted the lever under the dash for defrost/heat.
Must be it is pull out for warm?

Yep. The push/pull action on the knob will open a close a flap in the airbox that disables/enables air flow. On Thrift air (or more specifically, and my 64 C10 heater that I think is Thrift air) there is no valve in the water circulation, it circulates all the time. So in summer, air leakage past the flapper in the airbox warms the cab, like it or not. I think this is one the differences between Thrift and Deluxe. I see water valves for heaters for these years on places like LMC online catalogue, and I presume this is one of the things you get with the additional controls of Deluxe air.

I've considered adding such a valve to mine, without bothering with linkage. Just open the hood and turn it off for summer, back on in the fall.

[rickf]

Yeah, that looks like it.

In 1964 C10 the control is closer to the driver.

[LILRED66]

Factory specifications, state the Thrift-Air is a two speed switch and Deluxe-Air is a three speed switch.

There are a few different sizes of heater cores, however, either size will fit in the same heater box.

Keep in mind, I am only referencing 4-5-6 Chevy trucks...I can't speak to the specifics of the '60-'63.

[LILRED66]

You will get heat in the cab on both the Thrift-Air and Deluxe-Air models. One thing that helps is replacing all soft seals in the heater box, including the flapper. This really helps with the heat blow-by, especially in the summer.

The valve is a sure-fire way to eliminate the problem and many owners install them. Good suggestion/solution.

[davidh]

Re: std vs deluxe heater

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You will get heat in the cab on both the Thrift-Air and Deluxe-Air models. One thing that helps is replacing all soft seals in the heater box, including the flapper. This really helps with the heat blow-by, especially in the summer.
you mean the heater box under the hood where the heater core is right? doesnt look like there's much to change one out on these trucks. Changed one on a 69 once in 30 minutes or less. Aflter blowing out a bunch of leaves. LOL

[rickf]

The air flapper valve I was talking about is in the box inside the cab, under the dash.

[LILRED66]

ditto...the flapper in the under-dash plenum box. Also, make sure the center fan contol lever/cable is adjusted properly, because if it is not and there is a minimal current traveling through the switch, the blower will spin and introduce heated air into the cab, although very little, it is enough to warm things up. I have run into this issue before, even though the center lever was all the way at the top, which is supposed to be off, the cable did not fully close the flap and the switch was not totally off.