[VAL] Re: Heaters (was Heater Q from Russ)

[Russ Wojtkiewicz <rwojtkiewicz@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Pete and Blair,

I knew I could get a feel for  the job by asking experience!  I will 
admit, the old Water heater was no picnic, but not that hard.  Getting 
the new one in.....well, by that time, I was not afraid or warped out 
about cutting a minor bit of aluminum skin to enlarge the hole ever so 
slightly to get the new one in. The new placement of the gas line was 
the trickiest part and finding all the proper sizes and thread types.  
But all is in to code, no leaks and works great.

I don't have individual shutoffs for gas under the belly, but I also 
don't keep my tanks on the tongue yet. I am still restoring and fixing 
the hold downs for them.  My furnance is located under the range, 
streetside in basically the same cabinet with the sink, water pump, 
newly installed pressure tank, and water tank access (there's another 
whole subject!). Getting to it isn't that big o' deal.  Couple tight 
spots getting to the rear of the unit, but I'm still slight of build (4 
1/2 decades but my turn's coming) so I can just get in there yet.

I appreciate the opinions on the alternative heat sources, and was 
thinking that if there was or had been a better way, Wally and someone 
on the VAL would have discovered or used it by now.  But its always 
worth floating an idea.  The radiant heat will also try and heat the 
underbelly and outside (not only or so much rising as I thought, but 
heat gravitates to cold, whereever it is).  So a layer of reflective 
material or insulation would also have to be installed and that just 
complicates it all!  So, furnace it probably will be.

Has anyone operated/tested one outside of the A/S?  I would think this 
would be a real good idea to insure proper operation before all that 
time putting it back.  Well, no matter, I'm going to try it.  But Blair, 
you're right, MO is just a bit cool now (usually) to be working on these 
things.  Its these MO winters that I want to make sure I have a working 
furnance. Spring and Fall can be downright cold at times!

Thanks guys,

Russ W.
KC, MO
'70 Overlander