A new direction with a block heater?

Lil Foot

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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
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Peoria, AZ
I had an idea pop into the old noggin & would like some opinions.
A while back I picked up a small magnetic oil pan type heater for next to nothing, then came to realize that my B7100 has an aluminum pan & no accessible area on the block large enough to stick it there. Plus, the consensus seems to be they are not the best way to go anyway. Heaters in the water jacket seem to be the hot setup.:D
Now for my brilliant idea:
What if I machined a one piece sort of a double ended steel radiator hose size nipple that I could put in the lower radiator hose, with a flat plate on it to stick my magnetic heater on? It would just be my time, a couple of hose clamps, & some scrap material, and my chief financial officer would like that aspect.
Comments?
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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I don't think it's going to work to well for you, the inline heaters work so much better.
Send me a PM and I'll give you one, I have one out of my B7100 just sitting doing nothing.
 

gpreuss

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It should work fine, if you don't have a thermostat. Some of those magnetic heaters get quite hot. Bummer that they went to aluminum pans.
 

Lil Foot

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Lifetime Member

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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
7,858
3,088
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Peoria, AZ
How big is the contact surface of the heater?
Roughly 2" x4" see pics. (can't measure, heater is 150 miles from here at cabin.)
I don't think it's going to work to well for you, the inline heaters work so much better.
I thought this would act like an inline, but I really appreciate the offer! PM on the way! (I knew today was gonna be a good day)
It should work fine, if you don't have a thermostat. Some of those magnetic heaters get quite hot.
That's what I thought, but maybe I have an alternative now.
 

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