What trucks got heat stoves in 1969?

[IronCanine]

At what point in 1969, did heat stoves appear on our trucks? Below is a 69 Blazer that is purported to be low miles and looks relatively honest.

1) The paint color gives away it's 1969 status
2) The air cleaner assembly is the earlier version without a provision for the heat stove.
3) Blazer production began later in the 1969 MY
4) This truck has A.I.R. manifolds and no pump. Not surprising, but just to point out that it's not untouched.

[IronCanine]

Here is a period pic of a 307 4WD. The valve cover decal would tend to give it away as a 1969. It obviously has a heat stove.

[IronCanine]

Here are two more pics of 69s with non heat stove air cleaner assemblies. One is FirstOwner69's (Thanks Jim) Fremont C20 (Dec 68) which has a complete known history. (Also of note is that it came with the white AC decal on the breather and not the black one.). And the other is a 69 K10--that "appears" relatively honest. Jim's was non-emissions from the factory, the white truck appears to have had a smog pump-ectomy.

[IronCanine]

Not that this is a good measuring stick...but none of the 69 brochures show it.

[IronCanine]

This thread is obviously self serving, in that we want to do what is most likely correct for our build...an Oct/Nov of 68 St. Louis 4WD truck. Without knowing for sure, I'd bet the Blazer above was built in St. Louis based on the firewall handwriting. It would make sense to me that with the 69 engine changes, early MY trucks might not have had them and later MY trucks might have. My instinct is that our truck would not have had a heat stove and would have had a white decal on the breather. And with regard to a curved dipstick on a 69 4X4....I can't find an example at this point. What am I missing? Thanks in advance for any insight.

[outfield]

Here is a pic of my original 69 K20 Fremont truck engine, no heat stove. I believe this is an earlier year '69 because it has marker reflectors, not lights, at each corner. Can you tell the build date by the VIN?

[WorkinLonghorn]

In the 1969 GM Service Manual it states that "most" had heated air intake. My understanding is that it depended on the GVWR, at least in Calif. I bought my '69 2500 from the estate of the original owner in near perfect original low-mileage condition and it has no smog equipment except for the PCV of course. It has the 7500 weight rating.
The truck I had before this was a '69 1500 and it had all of the smog stuff but I don't remember a heat stove. I had to find all of the required smog equipment to get it to pass smog but honestly, I don't remember fussing with a heat stove and yet it did pass eventually. (Big help huh.)

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by WorkinLonghorn

In the 1969 GM Service Manual it states that "most" had heated air intake. My understanding is that it depended on the GVWR, at least in Calif. I bought my '69 2500 from the estate of the original owner in near perfect original low-mileage condition and it has no smog equipment except for the PCV of course. It has the 7500 weight rating.
The truck I had before this was a '69 1500 and it had all of the smog stuff but I don't remember a heat stove. I had to find all of the required smog equipment to get it to pass smog but honestly, I don't remember fussing with a heat stove and yet it did pass eventually. (Big help huh.)

Thanks for the Service Manual info. That at least supports the idea that it's a mixed bag.

FirstOwner69 expressed a similar sentiment about his 3/4 ton. Regs may have played a role in the heavier GVWR trucks. What I'd like to dig further into is: If "most" got them, what was the driving criteria? Let's say only 1/2 tons got em. Well, the pictures above make me suspicious that all 1/2 tons did. And if all didn't, then was it a timing issue...like most after Jan 69 got em. I would expect that the breather assembly was on them from the engine plant...so the point of decision is there. Not at the assembly plant where they are just dropping them in and hooking them up. Again, wiser and more knowledgeable voices please chime in.

[toms68cst]

In '68 anyway, I think automatics where more likely to get heat risers. Standards were more likely to get AIR. I think 3/4 and 1 tons tended not to have as much for smog controls.

I am not sure how 4X4 affected these rules.

California trucks probably had different rules.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

In '68 anyway, I think automatics where more likely to get heat risers. Standards were more likely to get AIR. I think 3/4 and 1 tons tended not to have as much for smog controls.

I am not sure how 4X4 affected these rules.

California trucks probably thad different rules.

Thanks Tom. I guess I was unaware that any 68s came with heat stoves. What about yours? I don't think that smog pump and heat stoves go hand in hand.

By the book all 69 4x4s were manual transmissions. I assume the black and white photo above is a 69 because of the valve cover decal. You can tell it's a 4x4 by the upper radiator pipe. It does not have AIR and does have a heat stove.

I think it is likely that 3/4T and 1T ton had different requirements. FirstOwner69's 3/4T came with no emissions equipment and was build in CA and sold in CA.

My feeling right now is that for our truck (which was built in Oct/Nov 68), I'm likely not to put heat stove components on. If it were later in the MY, say late winter or spring...I'd be more inclined to. I was just hoping that this thread could help me procure some additional information to either reinforce or change my position.

[toms68cst]

My 68 is a factory 4 speed. It has a smog pump.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

My 68 is a factory 4 speed. It has a smog pump.

Thanks Tom. The smog pump is not what I'm worried about. I'm trying to figure out what 1969 trucks had heat stoves...which would include the exhaust manifold shielding, tube and breather assembly highlighted in this picture.

[WorkinLonghorn]

Further info from factory service manual;

It lists 3 types of "air-cleaners"; 1) "oil wetted paper element", 2) two element air cleaner, and 3) oil bath.

" The two element air cleaner utilizes an oil sump in the air cleaner bottom and a fibre element"

"On most applications of the two element air cleaner it is used in conjunction with an exhaust manifold heat stove". -goes on to describe the system-

From this I would assume that oil bath and oil wetted paper air cleaners did not use heated air. My Freemont Calif '69 1/2 ton sold in Calif. had the air pump but no heat stove.

[IronCanine]

Thanks for that...and I would agree with your assessment. For additional reference, here is a pic of a 1969 K10 with an oil bath air cleaner.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by WorkinLonghorn

Further info from factory service manual;

It lists 3 types of "air-cleaners"; 1) "oil wetted paper element", 2) two element air cleaner, and 3) oil bath.

" The two element air cleaner utilizes an oil sump in the air cleaner bottom and a fibre element"

"On most applications of the two element air cleaner it is used in conjunction with an exhaust manifold heat stove". -goes on to describe the system-

From this I would assume that oil bath and oil wetted paper air cleaners did not use heated air. My Freemont Calif '69 1/2 ton sold in Calif. had the air pump but no heat stove.

This also gives us another known example of a 69 1/2 ton without a heat stove...compared to only one example of 69 with a heat stove. A small sample size to say the least, but it does run contrary to the "on most applications.." statement. It also makes me feel a little better about the decision to go without. Thanks again for posting.

[aerotest]

FWIW I have a 69 made in April 69 that has the same air cleaner as the blazer in the pics. No heat stove or provisions for it.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by aerotest

FWIW I have a 69 made in April 69 that has the same air cleaner as the blazer in the pics. No heat stove or provisions for it.

Hey, it's worth a lot to me. Thanks for posting. Was your truck a 1/2T? What was the assembly plant? Pics maybe?

[aerotest]

Yes 1/2t suburban made in Detroit. I think all the suburbans were made there. I will get you a pic tomorrow.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by aerotest

Yes 1/2t suburban made in Detroit. I think all the suburbans were made there. I will get you a pic tomorrow.

Thanks.

[IronCanine]

Another pic for reference. Late 69 Blazer...August of 69 in fact from St. Louis. 307 with a non heat stove air cleaner assembly.

[IronCanine]

This image may have previously been posted on the board, but I found it on the greater web. It is purported to be taken at the Flint Assembly plant in 1970. I post it mainly because my assumption (as stated earlier in this thread) that the air cleaner assemblies were on the engines when they arrived at the assembly plant was clearly wrong. It's also a totally awesome pic and post worthy for many other reasons.

[IronCanine]

Another log on the pile...1969 1ton low mileage original. No HS.

[BigBird05]

The engines were built at the engine plant without carbs or any engine "Dress". They then went to another assembly line where they received the proper carb, and brackets for the different options. Plus starters, motor mounts etc.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by BigBird05

The engines were built at the engine plant without carbs or any engine "Dress". They then went to another assembly line where they received the proper carb, and brackets for the different options. Plus starters, motor mounts etc.

I think the pic in post #25 definitely bears that out.

[Spartan]

Early 69 k20. No stove. I’ll get pics Sunday and revisit thread. Fremont truck sold in Oregon. I’m second owner.