DocWatson

How can you tell if a car is a True heater delete without the build sheet?



Regards, D.W.

83hurstguy

Interesting question... I'd say an original window sticker would work as well, as well as pre-restoration evidence. Is there one out there? I know some have been known radio delete, but I hadn't heard of a true heater delete...

68-W46

My 68 Hurst had the IBM punch card not a build sheet......it was under the carpet and listed all of the options.....strippo 68 H/O's are more common than you think. Mine did not have rally pack or wood wheel.....

rktolds

That's sooo cool. Love the el cheapo models. No chance of poverty caps on a HO right?

68-W46

Nope the wheels will not clear the disk brakes...

83hurstguy

But from what I can tell, you could have the full size steel wheels with wheel covers. Ugly with the covers, but cool as just black steel wheels with them off... You can see some in the Demmer photos.

Run to Rund

Heater delete, code H under group 2 on Lansing cowl tags, was not available domestically after 1967 model year. Export only afterwards.

DocWatson

Strange? I talked with a Older guy that Owns a 68 442 A/C delete bought in Lansing. the funny thing on that his identical twin bought one too! Both were purchased to race but his brother sold his 20+ years ago.

MDchanic

There is no such thing as "A/C delete."

A/C was an option (but not available on all cars). If you didn't get an option, that was just called "normal."

- Eric

DocWatson

The firewall on A/C cars is different. the delete plate is different. No hole in the fender or quarter for the antenna so the plates on the firewall and the dash are fake? the dash plates are the same plastic color and texture Normal.

D.W.

66-3X2 442

OK,ask him for proof or pictures showing the heater delete. As Joe said,the heater was required for cars for US use starting in 68. I'm not saying it wasn't possible but without actual documented proof,it's unlikely.

MDchanic

?????

What are you saying?

We all know that Heat and A/C bodies had firewall differences.

But there is no such thing as "A/C delete."

If you didn't want A/C, then you got a heater. That's not "delete." It's choosing not to buy an option.

If you didn't want a heater in '67 and earlier, even though it was standard, you could have it deleted by special order.
That's "heater delete."

Same thing goes for the radio. The radio was an option. If you didn't want it, you didn't order the option. It didn't come with the car unless it was ordered, so not ordering it is not "deleting" it, it is simply getting the normal base car.

- Eric

Run to Rund

Some builds, mostly Buick A bodies, were made with AC firewalls due to availability issues on the line. If the car was to have only a heater, the line installed cover plates on the firewall to revert the firewall to accept the normal heater box. Afaik these covers were never available through the parts dept (neither were the C48 heater delete firewall covers). The dash cover up to 67 was available for C48 cars.

MDchanic

THAT I never knew. Very interesting.

I'm a bit curious as to how well engineered these covers were (locations of ribs, etc.).
Anyone got a picture?

- Eric

DocWatson

I will ask, Maybe they were done at the dealership? He said they were deleted when he and his brother bought them new, he did have a sponsorship from the dealer.





D.W.

MDchanic

Now THAT is a horse of a different color.

A dealership sponsoring him for racing and helping prep the car is a whole other thing, and not unlikely at all.

- Eric

joesw31

The last year for heater delete cars was model year 1969. I have pulled many heater deletes including the model year 1969.


Refer to:
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966.

Koda

Interesting. I did just look at the 67 specs booklet, and all radios did cost money, which is as you said. I had thought that the base radio was standard, an upgrade was an option, and removing it was a delete, but they both seem to be options, and standard was nothing.

MDchanic

Exactly. While different trim levels did include some non-trim features (larger engines, carpeting instead of rubber mats), there were no "option packages" that included a radio, or P/S, or P/B, or A/C, or power windows.
Even on the 98 and Toronado, the radio, A/C, and power windows were optional, and you didn't get them without checking the box and paying extra for them.

- Eric

66-3X2 442

Interesting,I always thought and was told that the Feds changed the heater requirement in 68,not 70. I know you pulled a lot of the delete parts in HI,so I'm not going to debate you on this. I may do some research though for knowledge,thanks for the info.

MDchanic

Is it possible that the option of deleting the standard heater was only commonly offered in certain markets, such as Hawaii, in '68 to '70, and kept on the down-low in other places, but still obtainable if the buyer knew and pushed for it?

- Eric

66-3X2 442

It could be cars sent to HI were considered export,therefore heater delete was available. In all of my 35 + years of the hobby,I've never seen a 68 heater delete car.

joesw31

Cars sent to Hawaii (the 50th State) is not considered export. Further, Hawaii is not the only State that got heater delete cars, other States such as California, Arizona, and New Mexico also got heater delete cars.

costpenn

It might be interesting to see what the 68 engine assembly section in the PIM would have to say about this. There would have to be something about heater delete listing changes to the engine assembly and bill of materials specifying some kind of block off for the intake manifold heater port as well as something about a special water pump or a block off on that unit as well.

joesw31

Joe,


Also, (different) dash insulation pad that covered where the heater box was used. The pads were not cut for a heater to be installed. Also, a plug with clamp covered the nipple on the intake manifold and water pump nipple.


There was a 68 Hurst Olds that was raced in Honolulu, that car was originally from Utah, and converted to a heater delete.

Ryan 1969 Chevelle SS396

Maybe slightly off topic but the assembly manual for 1969 shows all the heater delete items and how they were assembled. Including the dash plate.


Ryan

83hurstguy

PIM section 6-1, Page 400. Title is "Engine Conversion (Cars Without Heaters)". It instructs to remove existing intake manifold nipple and install a plug, then install a cap and clamp on the water pump heater hose fitting.

PIM section 1-3, Page 400 shows the "Heater Control Hole Cover" for the dash HVAC controls and states Export Only on the drawing.

There might be a block off plate section for the firewall too, but I ran out of time to dig for it...

Bfg

My cousin once had a 65 Chey Van with heater delete and added a pot belly stove for heat. I think eventually it burned up.

MDchanic

Ha ha. Talk about "rolling coal."

- Eric