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Veteran
Posts: 121
| Good evening all......
Proud owner of this car, which I've had since 1991. Short story is: bought in 1991, sold back to the guy I purchased her from in 1994.
New house, family, moved, jobs, life, kids.....etc, etc. Have always mourned selling her, and only pics I have were regular film developed
at CVS from back in 1991.
Fast forward to three weeks ago. At a local speedway here in Massachusetts (Seekonk) with my family. Two hours into the thrill show, a guy and
his son sit near me. Looks familiar, but I cannot place him. Inside thirty minutes, I recognize him as the guy I bought and then sold back the Saratoga.
We start talking....I ask what he ever did with that car. My jaw dropped when he said he still had it! Parked in his garage right after I sold it back to him!
Been sitting for twenty (20) years! I ask if he'd consider selling again.....he thinks it over. Exchange numbers, etc....
Go see it about a week later. Looks like it was placed in a time capsule. Every aspect that I remember was there. Custom front plate I had made still on the car.
Change I left in the ashtray in 1994 still there. Strike a deal, and I now own her again. Title still in my name!
Four door hardtop. Power front bench seat. Power steering, power brakes. Power antenna. 354ci, all original, numbers matching.
Gasoline heater....which is why I'm here. Cannot find ANY info anywhere on these. This unit looks like it was factory built.
VIN is LC2-2824
Anyone familiar with these? Other jewel that sleeps near the Saratoga is a 1964 Chrysler 300K Letter Car......413ci, 2x4 Cross Ram
Site has restriction of photo file size. See this photo bucket link for pics: http://s1259.photobucket.com/user/kenbiello/library/1958%20Chrysler...
thanks!
ken
Edited by kenbiello 2014-10-13 8:30 PM
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Expert
Posts: 3155
  
Location: NY & VT | Why in the world would it have a gasoline heater? That was the province of VWs and Corvairs, aka air cooled cars. Very weird.
In any event.. WELCOME... from a fellow '58 4 dr hardtop (Windsor) owner! I think our cars are the same Sandlewood color too! What color is the roof??? Mine is white.
Edited by firedome 2014-10-13 8:39 PM
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | What a beautiful car, i LOVE the colour! Such a rare combo that really stands out in a sea of red and white cars!  |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| Could not tell you why it has a gasoline heater. Last I knew, all these were USA made. There's a tap off the fuel pump, which runs up to a blower/feeder into the heater unit.
I very heavy gauge, flexible steel exhaust? pipe exits the heater, down the front firewall, and runs almost the entire length of the passenger side frame rail. I've never seen one
on a water-cooled car before. I'll take some detailed pics and add them to the photo bucket page. I'm not sure what the name of the top color is. I'll do some research. I've been working on the 300K
for a while now. SO happy to have the Saratoga back.  |
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | Reading a bit on "the net" it seems that there were a couple makers of these gas heaters and they sold quite a few to be installed on cars that didn't have factory heaters. Does your gas heater look "built into" the car or added on? I had a 60 corvair that had a factory gas heater. Worked very well. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7207
Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Here's the car!! I thought that Mopar offered gas heaters as an option in the 1950s on a few models. Someone here must know.
 (saratoga.jpg)
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 saratoga.jpg (178KB - 235 downloads)
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| The heater is definitely built into the car, like it was installed on the line in 1958. It seems complete too. Will post pics when I take them this week. |
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Expert
Posts: 2932
Location: Lemoore CA | Studebaker offered a gas heater in 58 also, I believe these were for pretty cold climates where a heater running off of engine coolant was not as instant. |
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Posts: 1497
Location: Fairfax, Minnesota | imopar380 - 2014-10-13 8:51 PM Here's the car!! I thought that Mopar offered gas heaters as an option in the 1950s on a few models. Someone here must know. My dad had a 1959 New Yorker that came with a gas heater. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8948
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | could the heater be a southwind . anyhow just a fast search brought up the gas thermostat below --------------------------------------------later
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-MOPAR-1957-58-GAS-HEATER-THERMOSTAT-DES...
after looking it up in my parts books , the epay thermostat listing pretty much tells the whole true story
of what it fits and the heater model numbers and matches what the parts book says .
Edited by 60 dart 2014-10-14 3:48 AM
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | Yes, a gas heater was optional from the factory and it is detailed in my shop manual.
Here's a sample of the shop manual pages dealing with this gas heater:
Edited by soiouz 2014-10-14 5:21 PM
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 (photo%203.jpg)
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photo%201.jpg (98KB - 230 downloads)
photo%202.jpg (86KB - 224 downloads)
photo%203.jpg (82KB - 225 downloads)
photo.jpg (84KB - 232 downloads)
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| that is EXACTLY what I have! any way to get a scan of those pages?
thanks so much! |
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | kenbiello - 2014-10-14 9:20 PM
that is EXACTLY what I have! any way to get a scan of those pages?
thanks so much!
I will try and get better pics... my scanner is broken!
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | This is from the 1958 Canadian parts catalogue:
 (Gas1.JPG)
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Gas1.JPG (246KB - 215 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | And here are all the pages on the gas heater from the Canadian 1957-58-59 Factory Shop Manuals:
 (Gas2.JPG)
 (Gas3.JPG)
 (Gas4.JPG)
 (Gas5.JPG)
 (Gas6.JPG)
 (Gas7.JPG)
 (Gas8.JPG)
 (Gas9.JPG)
 (Gas10.JPG)
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Gas2.JPG (165KB - 224 downloads)
Gas3.JPG (230KB - 232 downloads)
Gas4.JPG (210KB - 237 downloads)
Gas5.JPG (210KB - 225 downloads)
Gas6.JPG (231KB - 254 downloads)
Gas7.JPG (188KB - 240 downloads)
Gas8.JPG (224KB - 232 downloads)
Gas9.JPG (234KB - 218 downloads)
Gas10.JPG (159KB - 230 downloads)
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| thanks so much!
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Expert
Posts: 3480
Location: Montreal, Canada | kenbiello - 2014-10-15 7:25 PM
thanks so much!
You're welcome! Glad I could be of help. And once again, congrats on that beautiful Chrysler! |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| thanks! I'm going to be looking for front signal lense covers if you know of any.
Passenger side rear lense could be replaced, as well as the reverse light lenses.
Appreciate any and all help!
She sleeps garaged right near my 1964 300K. 413 cross ram. Love them!
regards,
ken |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7207
Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | A friend of mine, Larry Zappone, in Seattle gave me some info on which cars and years were available with gas heaters. He writes:
Quote: As far as I know, the gas heater was only available on DeSotos, Chryslers, and Imperials. According to my 55-58 parts manual, model 800 was for 1956, model 801 was for 1957, and a model 803 was available for 1957 & 1958. I don't know if they were offered after 1958 or not. - Larry.
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Expert
Posts: 1819
Location: Vancouver, BC |
From Canadian Chryco parts catalogues -
My copy of the 1960 edition is the final edition. It lists "Heater - Gas" in the index as section "1-48-1". But there is no section "1-48-1". I guess Chrysler planned one, but never offered it.
The 1959 gas heater was available on US-built Plymouth, DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial models.
The 1958 catalogue lists model 801 and 803 heaters on DeSoto (except Firesweep), Chrysler and Imperial models.
1957 lists model 801 available on all DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial models.
1956 catalogue lists model 800 for all US-built DeSoto, Chrysler and Imperial models.
Years ago Special-Interest Autos had an article on gas heaters. They were manufactured under the South Wind name and the firm apparently supplied Chrysler. The fellow who developed the heater was a Canadian who was also working on a dialysis machine, if memory serves, but died without developing one. Cannot remember his name and all my issues are in storage in Vancouver.
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | Makes sense it'd be mostly for very cold climates where it would take the engine a long time to produce enough heat to warm the car.
Looks like your car has its original black plastic emblem insert in the gold grille badge Ken, that is VERY rare! The glue usually failed early on and the emblem is almost always missing - love to see a close up pic of an original one. Repops are available... and $$$! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I have noticed that if I pass a little, ... OK .. a LOT of gas in the car, the conversation gets instantly
"heated". Usually starts with "Oh God, not again ! ... but laced with a lot of expletives and references
to my heritage. 
I see no reference for this in the parts book, yet many know exactly what I am talking about. 
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| will take some pics today.
the badging is all original. front grill and each side badge on the rear quarters.
as far as I can tell, other than a repaint, it's all there.
radio still works!
lol |
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | It's main color is Sandlewood, just like my 58 Winnie... never saw it combined with silver-grey before - classy and very striking! More pics please!!
Edited by firedome 2014-11-11 10:08 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| Thanks!
More pics to come. I have just removed the trans and motor.
Time to clean, gasket, paint and detail.
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| All,
More pics to come. Thanks to all with input on the gas heater. I have never seen another one like it, and I'd like to refurbish it and get it working again.
The car has been inside, stored for over (20) years before I got her back. So, this week, I have pulled the trans and motor. Getting everything ready to be cleaned, degreased, gasketed, painted, etc....
She deserves it. Keeping her absolutely, positively bone STOCK! Anyone with advice on the degreasing, cleaning, wire-brushing process?
I figure, while the motor is on the stand, it's the best time to do this. I'm thinking EVERY gasket/seal I can get..........carb, exhaust, intake, rear main, timing chain cover, oil pan, valve covers, etc.....
I've never done this before, but got a good idea on how to go about it. I will rebuild the carb. Engine is all original, which still blows me away! Original distributor, generator, starter, intake, etc....
I plan on detailing the engine bay and painting. So......whoever has done before, I'm listening...! lol
Thanks much. I'll post pics when I dump my camera. If anyone has access or knows what numbers to look for on the block and trans, I appreciate that help too! I want to confirm the originality of my baby!
ken |
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Expert
Posts: 1906
Location: Ontario, Canada | Your car is factory body plate coded for the gas heater. Beautiful car! Glad you got it back!
Greg |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| LD3 Greg,
Please tell me how you decoded that? Thanks!
ken |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| All,
Pics of the front and side emblems, as I'm told they are somewhat rare.
Trans and motor pics. I think this may actually be the first time this motor has been pulled from the car
since she was built. |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| All,
Pics of the front and side emblems, as I'm told they are somewhat rare.
Trans and motor pics. I think this may actually be the first time this motor has been pulled from the car
since she was built. |
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Veteran
Posts: 121
| Scratch that. Site won't allow larger pic files. I'll add them to Photobucket.
http://s1259.photobucket.com/user/kenbiello/library/1958%20Saratoga... |
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Expert
Posts: 1906
Location: Ontario, Canada | Body plate code 347 is gas heater. Maybe someone can help with the other codes.
Greg |
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1958 Chrysler Saratoga
