[FC] BB gas heater tested

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

>... finally tested it (on the bench). It worked real fine !!, at least for me, as it was my very first encounter with a working gas heater.
>  
>

Congrats on getting an almost complete FC gas heater together and working!

>Next step will be making the exhaust pipe ( any idea on it's length ? ) 
>

 .. or diameter? -- stock FC gh exhausts are rather different than the 
car exhausts -- you need a diagram or picture or one in real life, 
installed, to take a look at -- also the diameter of the pipe is not 
something you'd commonly find in a shop that typically does exhaust 
systems.  If Clark's (or anyone else) has one, it would be the way to go 
-- has a couple 45º type bends about two feet apart, ending near the 
front cross member.  Sorry, no pics here.

Would certainly be interested in seeing those scanned instructions, when 
you get around to it, Tim ...   :-)

As for the heater pressure regulator, since it is basically just a 
relief valve, it is designed to insure the correct pressure to the 
heater when supplied with the correct pressure from the engine.  Over 
fueling a gas heater tends to lead to more excitement than is desirable 
and 5.5 psi is too much ("to get the 5.5 psi the book says")  -- you 
must have a different "book" than I do -- pg 12-11 in the 61 Shop Manual 
says "4 to 5 lbs." for the heater.  Personally, I think under five psi 
(3-5) is a fine place to be at the carbs "with" the return line of a gas 
heater or stock like turbo. All that is really needed is adequate volume 
at the carbs, mo.  But, since the gas heater "is" fuel injected, it 
needs appropriate design pressure to give the correct spray pattern.

The coils are special for the gas heater (as compared to the engine) -- 
note the absence of  any resistor or resistance  wire -- anyone "know" 
specific details?

Bill Strickland