Heater Box Ducting

This is the heater box that came with the Jeep. I works but all the vent covers are manual, so no actuator of any kind. Question one: should I lean under the dash every time I want to adjust the heat? And two: what type and where do they go if any ducts? Thanks!

 

Model 356? It's obviously an early Porsche heater!

 

Aftermarket heaters were a thing in the 50s. A heater was an option, and low-end cars and pickups often did not come equipped with one.

If you look in an old JC Whitney catalog, you might find this heater.

 

A modest example some may find interesting:

 

I have not seen many examples, but I think this was typical of the aftermarket heaters of the day - a box with some kind of doors you could open and close to regulate the heat. I expect these heaters were sold to owners with very modest means.

 

There are a number of threads about these Harrison’s heaters over on the OldWillysForum. Just a few.

Harrison Heater Rebuild

https://www.oldwillysforum.com/foru...er-willys-truck-wagon-sold.16782/#post-241958

 

A lot of the old Willys with aftermarket heaters used a brass valve mounted on the engine with a knob (like a hose bib) to open for heat. This is what was used to regulate heat; full open for maximum heat, then start opening or closing the doors to direct the warm(er) air. The CJs really didn't have much in the way of heat controls until around '63 when they got the fancy vacuum push button and cable slide controls. The prior models had a couple chrome knobs on the bottom of the dash operating cables to direct and regulate heat.
-Donny