Question for Task Force Owners

[rapid49]

What are you doing for windshield defrost / defog ? What was on these trucks originally ? I need help.

[OrrieG]

Mine had a stock deluxe heater, worker very well. Now it has a VA system with AC, but has not been tested. Good sized heater core and good air flow so I expect it to be the same. If yours did not come with deluxe heater there are lots of old box units that will work, usually have flap doors for cab heat and a couple of round flanges on top for defrost hose.

[Team24]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Mine had a stock deluxe heater, worker very well. Now it has a VA system with AC, but has not been tested. Good sized heater core and good air flow so I expect it to be the same. If yours did not come with deluxe heater there are lots of old box units that will work, usually have flap doors for cab heat and a couple of round flanges on top for defrost hose.

OrrieG just wondering if you removed your deluxe heater do you still have the square shaped flange that screwed to the left lower inner cowl that brings fresh air into the deluxe heater, and rubber sleeve that connect the two. If so are you willing to sell it. Thanks Bob

[rapid49]

Thanks for the response . I think I am going to do a Vintage Air unit.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Team24

OrrieG just wondering if you removed your deluxe heater do you still have the square shaped flange that screwed to the left lower inner cowl that brings fresh air into the deluxe heater, and rubber sleeve that connect the two. If so are you willing to sell it. Thanks Bob

I will look and see, know connecting sleeve was shot.

[Team24]

Thanks for checking for me OrrieG been looking all over. Only work on my 55 project during the winter months when I am in Florida. Sorry did not mean to hijack this thread just saw that you had, had a deluxe heater and have been look for one for a while now. Cheers
Posted via Mobile Device

[Black_Sheep]

I used a universal cab heater from Summit Racing, tucked up under the dash where the glove box used to be. It has dual fans and moves a ton more air than the original Deluxe heater.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by rapid49

Thanks for the response . I think I am going to do a Vintage Air unit.

I love the VA unit I have in my '57 3200. It's ice cold and does great through the Texas summer heat.
Got 2 recommendations for you. Get the deluxe controls and consider the upgraded side vents. Both are wonderful options.

[_Ogre]

the original defrost adapters screwed under my dash worked fine with the va system, the va replacements are short



i used a hybrid system under my dash instead of the va surefit as i didn't want the plastic heater duct
my hybrid consists of the surefit condenser/dryer/trinary up front and the compac mini under the dash
works very well, will run you out of the cab in either heat or cool function

unlike orrieg i never had much luck with the stock heaters, they would barely keep the windshield clear, much less any heat into the cab
extreme sub-zero winters in montana, wyoming and colorado: nothing you will encounter in la

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

the original defrost adapters screwed under my dash worked fine with the va system, the va replacements are short



unlike orrieg i never had much luck with the stock heaters, they would barely keep the windshield clear, much less any heat into the cab
extreme sub-zero winters in montana, wyoming and colorado: nothing you will encounter in la

Coldest mine every seen were beyond -25 hunting up in the high Sawtooth Mountains. That is as far down as the thermometer I had in the camper went. When we got back to nearest town, Stanley Idaho, they said it had been -30 in town and we were 2500 feet higher in a high basin. We would go out and hunt for 6 hours, then return to start a fire and the truck praying the antifreeze was really good to the rated temperatures.

I used the VA outlets on mine, but kept the stock ones just in case. I found I had to connect the hoses to the outlets before screwing them up to the bottom of the dash.

[roger55]

My VA defrost vents work and fit just fine. Both on my pickup and '55 Bel Air.
Nice and light too.

[rapid49]

I spoke with Vintage Air today. They don't sell a sure fit for a 56 GMC. They told me that there was less room in the GMC dash and the Chevy Surefit would not fit in my GMC . They recommended a gen 2 mini. What are you GMC owners using ?

[_Ogre]

the mini and compac are similar size, mini is .3'' narrower and .5'' shorter
not sure what is different between the gmc/chevy in the passenger dash area but it would be similar to my install
the va system was one of the 1st things roughed in the cab as i wanted to weld in brackets and figure hose routing
then it went back into the box to outlive the warranty by 4 years before i first charged the freon

[agnes the dog]

Quick and simple fix - I just use RainX inside and outside the windshield. Works like charm. I don't drive my truck in the winter, but it sees a lot of road time in the spring and fall.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Team24

OrrieG just wondering if you removed your deluxe heater do you still have the square shaped flange that screwed to the left lower inner cowl that brings fresh air into the deluxe heater, and rubber sleeve that connect the two. If so are you willing to sell it. Thanks Bob

I just did a quick look at the garage stock pile and it did not turn up, but I do not think I would have tossed it. I may have given it away with the stock heater too. As I put the truck back together and can get to the back of the shelves ,etc I will look for it. Send me a PM so I will have a way to contact you if it turns up.

[Team24]

Thanks OrrieG sent you a PM

[smoking59]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

I used a universal cab heater from Summit Racing, tucked up under the dash where the glove box used to be. It has dual fans and moves a ton more air than the original Deluxe heater.

Black Sheep, do u have a summit part number for that heater? Thanks