55.2-59 1955 GMC - Another interior mystery hole question

[UmmYeahOk]

I feel like a moron constantly displaying my ignorance, but what is this? The hole above the rocker kick panel vent. Looks like something is supposed to screw in there. A speaker? It’s not there on the drivers side.

[Axememan]

That’s the fresh air intake for the heater. I believe just the deluxe heater.

[paulspickupparts]

Fresh air intake for the deluxe heater. There is a flange that screws on . If you have a standard heater there is a delete plate.

[57tailgater]

Yes, that is the opening for the deluxe heater fresh air intake. Air comes from the cowl area between the hood and windshield - same as the vents. On the heater there is a flap inside you can adjust to get air from either outside (fresh) or inside (recirculate). Here's picture showing the install. This is looking at the firewall from under the hood if you were by the right front fender. Your "hole" is where the "inlet assembly" connects to.

[UmmYeahOk]

Thanks a bunch guys. Really helpful. Our truck was basically a shell, and we’re both too young to have seen these in their prime.

[1project2many]

As mentioned, the deluxe heater picks up fresh air there. There should be a flange which screws to the cowl. A rubber seal actually connects the heater to the flange.

Here's the instruction page from the 1957 Chevrolet Passenger Car and Truck Accessories Installation Reference Manual:
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...cpctai108.html


Here's the heater installed:

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by UmmYeahOk

Thanks a bunch guys. Really helpful. Our truck was basically a shell, and we’re both too young to have seen these in their prime.

I think he just insinuated that we are old...

.

[dsraven]

I sold a heater like that from my 57 GMC, the guy was more than thrilled to get a complete original system. seems like there are more standard ones out there.

[1project2many]

Thanks a bunch guys. Really helpful. Our truck was basically a shell, and we’re both too young to have seen these in their prime.

Here. Here is one of these in its prime. Or primer... :-)

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

I think he just insinuated that we are old....

Can't be. I still have too many things I want to do!

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

I think he just insinuated that we are old...

.

oh he did big time
we should run by his house and egg the windows

[Rickysnickers]

And if TP wasn't being hoarded you could do that too

[_Ogre]

most of our trucks came with standard heater.
there would have been a blank cover over the hole

[idbeast]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

oh he did big time
we should run by his house and egg the windows

Can any of us throw an egg that far anymore????

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by idbeast

Can any of us throw an egg that far anymore????

oh burn

[Daze57]

the deluxe heater if all is working well and well sealed ---is pretty good !!
i went thru the one i have completly with no issues .....itll cook ya

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Daze57

the deluxe heater if all is working well and well sealed ---is pretty good !!
i went thru the one i have completly with no issues .....itll cook ya

my memories of the stock heater differ. i remember driving in a sub-zero snow storm and freezing my nads off. had to get out every 20 minutes to scrape the ice/snow off the outside and the ice off the inside. brrr. i was never warm in any tf truck. bought my 1st tf truck as a high school freshman in WI, 2nd at 18 in CO, 3rd at 19 in san Francisco (no heater), 4th at 25 in NC, 5th and current at 30 in NC. i don't remember any of them with a decent heat

[57tailgater]

My experiences with the deluxe heater are good. I used it in northeast Indiana where it can get pretty cold in the winter when I was using my '57 as a daily driver. It worked especially good AFTER I sealed up all the holes in the firewall with duct tape!! (Those will be properly taken care of next iteration) But then again I was younger, more resilient and dressed appropriately. Defroster worked decent albeit not a dehumidified one like today's cars. For a system 60+ years old it's not too bad.

[UmmYeahOk]

Originally Posted by MiraclePieCo

I think he just insinuated that we are old...

Originally Posted by _Ogre

oh he did big time
we should run by his house and egg the windows

And you both are insinuating that I am male.

[_Ogre]

i try not to do that stuff, my apologies

still gonna egg your house

[UmmYeahOk]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

i try not to do that stuff, my apologies

still gonna egg your house

It helps that my screen name is genderless.

And “Ok boomer!” ...whatever makes you happy, just don’t forget some bacon too. Thanks.

[RVAH-13]

Originally Posted by dsraven

I sold a heater like that from my 57 GMC, the guy was more than thrilled to get a complete original system. seems like there are more standard ones out there.

Here is my "standard" one if I can add the picture.

[57tailgater]

Here’s what the recirculating heater looks like. It does not use the hole referenced by the OP.