Headbolt Heater for Power Wagon

[KenaiGary]

Some of you are aware that I recently purchased a 1950 B-2-PW as a project truck. The engine has a headbolt heater attached at the top of the block with an electrical cord going to the front of the truck. I would like to find one of these for my 61 MW300, but VPW doesn't list one and I have searched this forum and found no reference to one. Was this something that an old Alaska homesteader rigged up to help his truck start when it was 30 below or is there something available out there. I searched the internet and found no mention of anything. As always, I appreciate all advice.

[Jerry Henry]

Looks like a good idea. I would like to know more about it, too. I do think you are better off getting as low on the block as possible, as in a freeze plug heater, due to the "heat rises" principle. But I'm sure in your area the more the merrier. Jerry

[KenaiGary]

Headbolt Heater

I talked to a mechanic whom I trust and he said there is no place to put a modern engine block heater in the 251. He also said he was not about to drill a hole in it to mount one at the bottom; I agreed we didn't want to do that.

[Jerry Henry]

I haven't done this yet, myself, but I am under the impression there is a heating unit that will replace one of the freeze plugs in the side of the block. I'm not sure of the size of the freeze plug hole, but it seems 1 5/8" plug heaters are pretty common.
I sure wouldn't want to drill in the block either!
I have used the magnetic heaters on the oil pan, but they are not as good as heating the water in the block.

[tw144man]

Cold Weather Starting Option

You may wish to check into lower radiator hose heating units. Not sure who has them, but they do heat the coolant and you get convection circulation.

[Jerry Henry]

Yes, they work well. I have them on a couple of trucks. The lower you can get it, the better.

[Tom Petroff]

The head bolt type heater was the first attempt of the "Block" heater we know of today.
As you saw it replaces a head bolt.
They were sold through auto parts/specialty stores back in the day and were mostly owner installed,however depending on how well you knew you dealer salesman he could probably have it done for you after the truck arrived from Dodge.
No one makes them anymore but they do show up on e-bay and swap meets from time to time.
In the mid to late fifties they started making the heater hose,and lower hose types,along with the first frost plug(block) heaters.
This one was on my WDX from MN.
TGP

[maineSS]

When it comes to engine wear, oil is the fluid you want flowing ASAP. It's also the last fluid that heats up in the warmup cycle when unassisted. Back in the 80's there was an SAE study showing that the startup and first two seconds of run put 500 miles worth of wear on an engine, and that the equivalent of 40,000 miles of run time on a warmed up engine produced no detectable wear.

If you intend to run your truck in subzero temps, I'd look into a good oil pan heater that's thermostat controlled- your engine will last noticeably longer. Synthetics would help if your seals will hold them, but your engine probably sports well used seals that will leak syn oil bigtime.

[KenaiGary]

Headbolt Heater

Thanks for all the advice as always. I've located a headbolt heater as seen in my photos and the one posted by Tom and will be installing it. Already have installed an oil pan heater.

[Gordon Maney]

I have always liked the tank style heaters.

Google tank type engine heater.

[KenaiGary]

Headbolt Heater

Any particular brand you favor? I looked at one by Kat and they say they don't make one to fit the 1961 PW. JC Whitney carries one called ZeroStart.

[Jerry Henry]

Jumping in here, I will say I have bought several heaters that fit either in a heater hose or a radiator hose. Most of these are sold by hose size, not necessarily vehicle specific. They used to make one that had a third outlet that tapped into the engine block. Probably one of the drain cock holes. The lower you can get your heat source, the better. I am going to look into a freeze plug heater. JH

[Bob Thompson]

I have found those on a couple old cars a 39' Dodge I bought from a guy outside Fargo and an 38 Studebaker which was at one time registered in Michigan. The two I had consisted of a head bolt with a long ceramic tip which I presume held the heating coil. I guess the instructions directed the installer to pick a bolt hole that went into the water jacket.
I cleaned one up and put it on my desk as an oddity, but it wandered off somewhere.

[Gordon Maney]

Any particular brand you favor? I looked at one by Kat and they say they don't make one to fit the 1961 PW. JC Whitney carries one called ZeroStart.

They fit anything, since they just hang out in space under the hood along side the engine. They cost more to run than a core plug heater, but I believe they are much more effective.

[The Other Ross]

When it comes to engine wear, oil is the fluid you want flowing ASAP. It's also the last fluid that heats up in the warmup cycle when unassisted. Back in the 80's there was an SAE study showing that the startup and first two seconds of run put 500 miles worth of wear on an engine, and that the equivalent of 40,000 miles of run time on a warmed up engine produced no detectable wear.

If you intend to run your truck in subzero temps, I'd look into a good oil pan heater that's thermostat controlled- your engine will last noticeably longer. Synthetics would help if your seals will hold them, but your engine probably sports well used seals that will leak syn oil bigtime.

Back when I was a kid(70's)my father ran a '56 Jeep pickup(it's still around here some where).He had a dipstick oil heater that he plugged in on particularly cold nights.Just pulled the regular dipstick out put this one in and plugged it in.