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Block heater install

A

Acesneights1

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Posted here because same block and more likely someone here has done it. My CUCV(6.2) apparently doesn't hve a block heater. Anybody ever install/change one in truck ? I'm debating whether to mess with pulling a freezeplug in truck or just getting a heather that intercepts the heater hoses. Does the block heater(GM one) get driven in or is it more like an expandable freeze plug where is gets tightened in.
 
The frost plug heaters tighten in with a toggle. A little messy job in the truck but very doable. I've had good luck with napa heaters. Aprox. $45
 
To get the old one out, use a long punch (suitable round steel bar) and place in the upper or lower part of the cup. Drive the cup until it just turns on end and starts to go into the block.

At this point you can usually grab the beast with a vise grips and wiggle/pry out.

Use a small rotary "end bristle" wire brush in a drill motor or a die grinder and clean the plug hole very very well to remove the rust and crud that will be in bore.

With the bore clean the heater unit slides in and has an Oring on its flange that seals the heater.

The "Toggle" is a little bar that spreads out over the inside of the holes edges when the retaining screw on the heater is tightened.

There is an Oring on the back of the screw also.

This is an easy install out of the truck but with everything clean it should not be a nasty job. The biggy is of course the coolant that runs out of the block when the plug is removed.


***** be real sure that the bore is clean and free of any crap, crud, rust or other stuff.********

A little silicone grease applied to the Oring on the heater will help assure a good leak free install.

The are also lower radiator hose heaters too.

The ones that go into the heater hose are ???????? at best
For best heating, heat at the bottom and it will rise through the whole system.

Units that have a little pump work ok in the heater hoses.

Best setup for the $$$$ is the stock freeze plug type of about 500 watts or so.

Missy
 
Yeah the one I was thinking was the heater hose one with the pump. It worked on a 6v53 I had years ago. IIRC it burned out though in a few years.
 
ONe good thing abot the CUCV plenty of room to work under it. Just not in love with messing with something that currently does not leak....:eek:
 
I just picked up the heater and plug from the dealer for $42 dollars even Kenny for my 97, the part number is 12343981 if that helps you any. My international block didnt have one. Have yet to put it in.. Ill let you know how it goes :eek:
 
Kenny, why not look into Wolverine Oil Pan heaters? These things supposedly get really really warm bringing temps up to 60df in 2 hours. And being on the bottom of the block it would warm upwards. Can get a really big one for 100 bux or so, and installation ease would more than pay for extra cost of dealing with a frost plug BS.
 
Racers like oil pan heaters, particularly on HardBlok'd engines not running any cooling system. A way to get oil up to reasonably lubricating temps, since they can't simply run the engine (w/ no coolant) long enough to heat the oil.

I like the idea of heating up the oil - but maybe more as a secondary measure.

As cylinder & pre-cup temp has alot to do with how well these things fire up in very cold air temps. I'm thinking heated coolant is more likely to get some heat migrated into the pre-cups/upper cylinder quicker. I have no evidence of this; just an opinion as I'm thinking out loud.

If ease of installation is the factor, I'd go with the vertical cannister type heater. A bit easier to put in than getting at the freeze plugs, and most cannisters will heat things up notably faster.

I did a freeze plug/block heater on each bank of mine, but that's easier to do with the engine on a stand.
 
Kenny, I use the tank type heater (plumbed into hoses) with a circulating pump in it. It works great!!!
 
Kenny, I recommend 2 block heaters... I have a 600w and a 1000w, in opposite sides.

I decide which one to plug in based on temp... 600 is pretty economical, 1000 works real good up to about -30, and I plug 'em both in below -30 or when I want to warm it up fast.

I also like the water-jacket (freeze-plug) heaters better than the in-line heaters that go in the lower rad hose - I've had issues with those.

The oil pan heaters work OK, but I don't like them when it's really cold... you seem to heat the oil, but not the block... damn things make ALL kinds of noise until the block catches up to running temp.
 
I'd go with the dual block heaters also. I don't know how many of you are aware that you can get tank heaters in pretty large wattages. The biggest I've persoally seen is 2500w but they might make bigger ones.
 
Yeah, you can get the tank heaters in many different wattages/sizes. If absolute speed to a given temp is the priority, they'll be fastest - due both to wattage & the way they circulate the coolant. We preferred them on diesel equipment that you didn't necessarily run everyday so you couldn't simply put it on a daily timer/switch. Tank heaters were much quicker to warm up when you hadn't planned ahead. You can find tank heaters at FleetFarm/Tractor Supply type places, think SSDiesel/Walt also shows one on his website.

A block heater (or 2) certainly mount cleaner/neater without the additional clutter of plumbing a tank heater in.
 
600, 1000, 2500 watts? Jeebus, I didn't realize the heaters were that 'hungry'. OEM 6.5's have just one heater?
 
3500GMC said:
600, 1000, 2500 watts? Jeebus, I didn't realize the heaters were that 'hungry'. OEM 6.5's have just one heater?
Click to expand...

Yep - I think they are 600W.

When the temperature falls to -40* with a wind, that little bugger doesn't cut it... as I indicated, I like 2 block heaters so I can find the balance between enough heating to start easily and saving some $$ on power bills.

When it's less than -30, I leave the little one running all the time and plug in the larger one (also) an hour before I want to leave.
 
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