fbekholden.com

From memory, both the cylinder head and water pumps are 1/2" NPT plugs (earlier greys had a 3/8" NPT plug on the water pump). Probably pay to check the size though as my memory could be wrong and it could be BSP. The quick check:
1/8" NPT is 27 TPI and 0.41" diameter
1/4" NPT is 18 TPI and 0.54" diameter
3/8" NPT is 18 TPI and 0.68" diameter
1/2" NPT is 14 TPI and 0.84" diameter
1/8" BSP is 28 TPI and 0.383" diameter
1/4" BSP is 19 TPI and 0.52" diameter
3/8" BSP is 19 TPI and 0.66" diameter
1/2" BSP is 14 TPI and 0.83" diameter
You can buy steel/brass plugs from most hardware joints, or plumbers supplies.

If you get really caught, you can cut the hose off about 2" from the head/pump. Insert a bolt (that is a firm fit) into the hose stub, and hose clamp the bolt in place. A little dodgy, but neater than 3' of rubber hose.

The blank firewall grommets are part of the Rares kit FW1003. They also separately sell the blank with the heater hose holes (7420721), though I can't remember if the holes are pre-punched, or supplied blank.

The beehive heater is period correct, though looks more at home in an FE/FC than an FB/EK. A Warmaride suits the FB/EK. Just my opinion though - plenty of nice Smiths heater examples in FB/EKs.

Cheers,
Harv

If you want the 'genuine article' (from the nearest plumbing suppliers or hardware but are too lazy to hand over $2.50 ea), you could always spend $20.99 with 'good' old Greedybitz on evilpay ($14.99 + $6 postage !!!) .

The actual factory fitted blanking plugs (in the head and water pump) were black steel and had a square drive on top which was basically the same as the old gal pipe plugs that the old school water and gas pipes had. If you like I can take a pic of one for you ?

Go and buy a couple of Chinese made brass jobbies from Bunnings etc for now, give them a light application of thread sealant or grease, whack em in and you're done !

Dave Mac

These great little heaters also come up fairly regularly, are pretty tidy and a period aftermarket add on. Very reliable too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cmZOVefsEI

Plus there are some very good new heaters many of which have been dealt with here on various builds

Thanks Dave I saw the greedybits plugs on eBay .... I think I will head down to Bunnings today with the kids
Those Bosch heaters look alright also

Went down to Bunnings and when I started asking about 1/2" NPT threads and non metric sizes they had no idea what I was talking about and told me that they didn't make them anymore
I did manage to find a 20mm but don't know if this will fit

Careful... there is no way that the grey motor threads are metric. You might be able to get it to jam in there, and hopefully the brass smooches to make a seal. Pretty dodgy though.

If you are unlucky, the brass plug has been work hardened or the grey motor threads are soft... and it strips the cylinder head threads.

Thanks Harv I just ordered some off eBay from the UK ....

You can get them from Reece or Tradelink plumbing...

Have you looked that the other option Damien
You seem to have the plugs so why not put a heater in the car?
I'm glad I did now I go to the Nationals and keeps my misses happy...

This is the one I put in it's a "Bumble Bee" type which are not that expensive
Russell on here picked mine up for $80 at a swap meet.
They come up on ebay quite often



You need a tap for the back of the block around $60 on ebay



You already have this plug with the hole in it I beleive?



You also need this tap that goes from the fronts plug and connects to the slide on the dash..$12 on ebay



This is why I don't have a "Nasco" heater under the dash. and you also need the red and cream switch next to the radio $15 on ebay
Thats the fan control and trust me they throw out some heat!



Another reason for the radio being under the dash is that I don't want to replace my ultra rare and expensive radio blank..



Just letting you know there are other ways and in winter you'll wonder why you didn't put in a heater

Ask the others that go to the Nationals about that...

Cheers

Wayne

WayneXG95 wrote:You need a tap for the back of the block around $60 on ebay
You also need this tap that goes from the fronts plug and connects to the slide on the dash..$12 on ebay

He'll only need one tap - you can shut off the supply, or return lines. No need to shut off both. He can reuse the existing nipples on the waterpump and cylinder head, and just use the $12 tap under the dash. If he doesn't have a 2-slide control on the dash for the cable, he can manually operate the $12 slider.

Cheers,
Harv

And there's another option!..

All Damien needs is a heater and some hose..

Thanks wayne looks great!

Just picked up a smiths style beehive heater and getting it posted up to Sydney
Do the fans run continuously on them and is there a need to wire in an electrical on off switch???

Pretty sure they have a seperate on off switch to run the fan so any on off switch will work

There's a red switch next to the radio in one of the pics I posted before Damien
And you might consider taking the heater to a radiator place and have it tested.