Check out this video. I think he must have recharged the battery overnight while he had the block heater plugged in. FF to 8:30 if you're in a hurry.

 

Maybe, he didn't say. One of the biggest reasons a car won't start at -25°F to -30°F is because it takes significant amperage for the starter to turn the very, very thick engine oil. Notice he stated his fingers were getting hot via the ignition turning the key? That battery amperage was shooting directly to the ignition switch (path of least resistance). The load placed on the starter is significant when you're struggling to turnover an engine which contains sludge for oil. A block heater warms the block (~140°). That's a significant delta between -25°F & +140°F. Even if the heater was an oil pan heater (not a block heater), the viscosity of the oil would have been far, far, far lower when heated and reduce the load (drag) on starting the engine.

Speaking of cold. It was supposed to get to -43°F in Fairbanks, AK last night - I need to see if it did or they broke the record from 1930 (-66°F).

 

Faster cranking speed in cold weather and faster flow to critical areas is where synthetic oils really shine. -43°F in Fairbanks...yikes!

 

I used my 81 Delta 88 for years in -40. A good 800+ CCA battery, block heater and properly set choke was key to easy starting. Also keeping the tank above a 1/4 was a good idea, along with the occasional shot of gas line antifreeze.

 

-30 is definitely chilly. It's supposed to be in the single digits this weekend in OK so I decided to drive my 96 to work today before it hit.

 

I watched your '71 98 YouTube head gasket removal video - short of the actual removal. Sounds like nice weather to finish the job?

 

Nice video but I have no idea what it would be like to live anywhere colder than about 45deg..
What is the lever located under the dash by the drivers right knee?
Is the alternator located on the right side because it doesn't have A/C?
'73 Delta towing option package would have HD radiator, 3:23 ratio limited slip diff, dual exhaust, HD rear suspension and I think high output alternator.

 

Isn't the device under the dash a trailer brake?

 

I use this engine heater in my truck and it works much better than the blockheater i had earlier. Easy to mount
to the heatercore hoses and has pump that cirkulates the cooling fluid , you can feel the whole 305 engine is warm.
But this maybe not work with cars with a vacum heater valve.



The power cord is missing in the pic but should be connected under the heater.