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Installing a block or inline heater in a v8 SD1

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Rod Farnsworth

Freshman Member
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Hi all,

Has anyone installed a block heater or inline heater to a SD1 V8 3.5L? I prefer the block heater.. I discovered my car (a 1980) does not have one and its getting cold here. It could be minus 30 degC soon – Ha –nasty.

What fits and is it relatively easy to put in?



Thanks Rod

Calgary, Canada
 
Well Steve, don't forget all the early Volvos had them and perhaps an owner has one. I just sold a 544 and included the block heater with it to a fellow in Wisconsin.---Fwiw---Keoke
 
Block heaters and inline heaters are still offered as optional extras and accessories up here, so I would imagine that Canada would certainly have them......but I think that maybe the issue would be finding one that would fit that actual block.
 
I installed an in block heater when I put a new 4.0 litre (same as 3.5) in my Range Rover, Don't remember the brand, but I bought it from Rover' North. Of course it was much easier to do before the engine was installed!

Roversnorth.com
 
A long shot but you could check the junkyard to look at the setup on GM (Buick) 3.8L V6 engines. They were derived from the old Buick aluminum V8 so blocks *might* be similar enough to work.
 
Many of the block heaters currently available fit into one of the freeze plug openings. If you know the diameter, it shouldn't be difficult to find.
Jeff
 
Just to tidy this up, I found the solution. Just buy from Canadian Tire , or your best supplier, using the diameter needed. I installed it in the left rear frost plug hole. (not the recommended one which is the centre hole but that's behind the exhaust manifold)
Rod
 
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