Steve spotted this unusual heater for sale. I found a 1998 reference to a similar heater from the Willys Tech site (but couldn’t get the actual post to appear). Anyone seen another like this?
“his is off my jeep cj2a willys 1946. It’s an under seat heater. I’ve never seen one or heard about one so I can’t say much. It must be 6 volt because the cj2a is 6volt. It was mounted under the passenger seat where the tool compartment is located. The metals bent and I couldn’t tell if the coil holds or if the fan motor turns. This could be a cool add on for someone that’s looking for a rarity.”
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Dave, what puzzles me is what path the heater hoses took from the engine block to this heater. Did they go under and up through the floor, or through the firewall and on top of the floor?
I have no clue. I don’t see any inlet/outlet for hoses either, so not sure how it worked.
Third photo, both hoses are on the right.
OH boy. I can’t believe I missed those!
I don’t believe that Willys offered under seat heaters. I would have seen them and heard of them when they were all over the place in the ’60’s. I have a 2wd Panel (parts car) with heaters under the seat that are obviously not original, though a good idea. I know of a ’76 Toyota Landcruiser that has a factory rear heater similar in design that mounts on the floor between, and just behind, the two front seats. It can overheat the rear passenger compartment with no problem. The LC parts dealers will buy used ones from you, so they are valuable. But, I’ve never heard of Jeeps using under seat heaters.
Of course, heaters in all vehicles were optional in the ’40’s and 50’s. Willys had an optional interior heater on the passenger firewall that fit any civilian model Jeep. Today, they seem to reap a pretty penny on E-bay, especially when restored. In ’57, Willys upgraded their heater design with half on either side of the passenger firewall. The Wagons and pickups had the heater core inside, and the air plenum (air duct with fresh air valve) on the engine side. You will notice the intake vent near the front parking lights on ’57 to ’62 Willys Pickups and Wagons with the later heater design. For some reason, CJ-5’s with a similar setup had the heater on the driver’s side, which is in the way of checking the oil of a Buick V-6.
The heater in my ’49 Jeepster does just fine in cold weather when the top is up. It’s mounted on the firewall, inside above the passenger’s feet. Your legs don’t get cold, but I do wear a hat when driving on cold winter days. (We don’t winterize our old cars in the West… now I’m bragging. lol.)
My point is that Willys heaters work very well when they were installed on the firewall, not under the seat.
**Steve E.**
P.S. You can’t blame yourself, Dave. That’s a terrible photo with the guy’s arm shadowing the heater hoses, so you don’t notice them. Something I’d do to ruin a good photo. (lol.)
P.S.S. Sorry for using foul language, Landcruiser. I’m going to wash my mouth out with soap right now……