North American Turbocoupe Organization



Engine BLock Heater
philS Offline
Senior Member
#1
Was this an option on the TCs?

If so, where did the element(s) go on the block?

Would it be easy enough to retro-fit one to a 2.3?

Thanks,
Phil

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86 TC, 73 Mini, 72 Mini Van project, SVT Focus
Click here to beat a ricer.
Did you hear about the Lucas powered torpedo? It sank.

86 TC, 73 Mini, 64 Mini Van, Saturn wagon
Click here to beat a ricer.
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#2
I have used block heaters in all my cars for years. It gets COLD here in WI!!. The TC has a freeze plug heater. Goes in the front freeze plug on exhaust side. Can be installed from the top, you dont even have to crawl under he car, except to drain the antifreeze. The one I used is a KAT 10610 / K7GR.

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 21 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 02 Taurus Vulcan(wifes car)
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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philS Offline
Senior Member
#3
Thanks Jeff.

I'll grab the KAT.

------------------
86 TC, 73 Mini, 72 Mini Van project, SVT Focus
Click here to beat a ricer.
Did you hear about the Lucas powered torpedo? It sank.

86 TC, 73 Mini, 64 Mini Van, Saturn wagon
Click here to beat a ricer.
Reply

philS Offline
Senior Member
#4
BTW, do you use an oil heater on the cold days?
Did you hear about the Lucas powered torpedo? It sank.

86 TC, 73 Mini, 64 Mini Van, Saturn wagon
Click here to beat a ricer.
Reply

Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#5
Quote:Originally posted by philS:
BTW, do you use an oil heater on the cold days?

As a matter of fact, I do. I got the heating element out of an iron (clothes iron) for $1 at a local surplus store, and used the "low" temp 300 Watt terminals. Roughed up the oil pan and heater with 80 grit, and used a lot of JB weld to attach it to the pan. Painted everything black with high temp paint. It has held for over 3 years now. I wired it in parallel with the block heater. Terminals on heating element are insulated with high temp RTV. Total cost for everything was under $5. When it is zero deg outside, oil gets up to 100 deg or so (I have a digital oil temp gauge), and coolant gets warm in a few hours plugged into the AC line. Just like firing up the car on a hot summer day!

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Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 21 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 02 Taurus Vulcan(wifes car)
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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mmedic50 Offline
Senior Member
#6
Jeff, sounds interesting. Did you encase the iron's heating element in the JB Weld or use just enough the cement it to the oil pan? North east Indiana gets pretty cold too sometimes, I think that I see a summer project in the works.
1988 TC 5 speed, Dark Blue
Build date 5/88.
140 mph Ford Motorsport Speedometer
Tripminder
Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
Kirban Adj. Fuel Pressure Regulator
K&N Air Filter
Gillis Boost Control Valve
New rebuild- .030 over pistons.
SS valves(1.89/1.59).
Center Force Stage II clutch.
ARP head studs.
Crane roller cam .450 lift.
Gutted upper and ported lower intake.
Ceramic coated and ported E6 exhaust.
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#7
The heating element is already encased in what looks like steel, so I just JB Welded it to the oil pan.

------------------
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 21 psi, forced air intercooler, water injection, bypass valve, Ranger roller cam, subframes, etc., etc.. // 86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP nitrous, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.... // 91 Escort: Bone stock winter car // 02 Taurus Vulcan(wifes car)
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
Reply

philS Offline
Senior Member
#8
Great idea, Jeff.

I saw a unit that goes in the dipstick tube, but it looks like it would have minimal effect compared to your oil pan heater.

------------------
86 TC, 73 Mini, 72 Mini Van project, SVT Focus
Click here to beat a ricer.
Did you hear about the Lucas powered torpedo? It sank.

86 TC, 73 Mini, 64 Mini Van, Saturn wagon
Click here to beat a ricer.
Reply

Alaskanzeus Offline
Senior Member
#9
I wish I would have installed mine this winter, when it hit -50 last week and cold started it, i could just visualise blowing a head gasket, not to mention the other things that happen. I was planning on getting seasonal tags after this year, but if I have to drive it next winter, a block heater, dipstick heater, remote autostart and battery blanket are all going to be ready to go.
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vegas_ss Offline
Senior Member
#10
Quote:Originally posted by Jeff K:
I have used block heaters in all my cars for years. It gets COLD here in WI!!. The TC has a freeze plug heater. Goes in the front freeze plug on exhaust side. Can be installed from the top, you don't even have to crawl under he car, except to drain the antifreeze. The one I used is a KAT 10610 / K7GR.



Just finished putting things together after a blown head gasket, filled up the radiator with 50/50 antifreeze and went on to some other tasks when I noticed antifreeze dripping on the floor. Since I replaced all coolant hoses, radiator, waterpump, t-stat I was certainly PO'd and started checking around... it's the freeze plug in front with the block heater (like I need that in the desert). You mentioned being able to replace this from above??? I really can't see how you can get to this without removing the exhaust manifold. Can you elaborate? Also best I can find on here is 1.5" diameter plug any specific part #'s? What's the drill on actually removing, prepping and installing a freeze plug? I know they are a friction type fit... no sealant at all required? I assume those rubber expansion plugs won't fair to well with the exhaust right over it.
1987 TC, 5sp, Boport Stage 3 Head/2.1 Cam
1996 Impala SS, DCM, Borla Cat Back, too much other stuff!!! (SOLD)
2009 Pontiac G8 GXP 6M, 6.2l LS3, Kooks Long Tube, Hi Flo Cats, Mild Cam
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