1969 Engine Block Heater

[Don W.]

Does anyone have any information, specs, pictures, other GM vehicles, etc., that used the engine block heater. I have not been able to find any info on how and where the unit and power cord were installed.

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Don

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

Does anyone have any information, specs, pictures, other GM vehicles, etc., that used the engine block heater. I have not been able to find any info on how and where the unit and power cord were installed.

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Don

Don-----


The heating element installed in one of the freeze plug orifices on the side of the block. You can find complete details in the UPC K-05 section of the 1969 AIM.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

Had one on my orange 69 convertible. It had a brown cord that was quite like a lamp cord to be plugged into an extension cord or receptacle, as I recall. Was attached on the driver side foward on the block. Don't remember much else about it. Wish I had photos of that car as it seemed to have every option imaginable. I'll look thru my photos and see if there is a shot that might enlarge to a useful image.

[Don W.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

Did it look like this?

[Michael W.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

Don,

Do you believe that yours was a factory installed K05, or was dealer/aftermarket installed?

[Don W.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

Yes, mine was the factory K05 and I have the documentation showing is was part of the original build. However, the unit was removed by a previous owner and I've been trying to find an original unit to put on the car and get it back toward it's 1 of 840 build status.....Don

[Michael W.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

Cool. A very rare option- I've wondered why it was offered at all, especially by the factory.

Most 'daily drivers' during the 60's and 70's here in the frozen north had block heaters for those really nasty -30 mornings where you should have stayed in bed but couldn't.

Few new Corvettes here got used in the winter, we usually tried to find a $200 beater in the autumn to get us through to spring.

The market for this must have been very small, again I wonder why the factory bothered.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

I know that at least one L-88 was built with a block heater.

Patrick

[Michael W.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

I know that at least one L-88 was built with a block heater.

Patrick

Probably for ice racing, I heard they do that in West Michigan.

[Don W.]

Re: 1969 Engine Block Heater

My 69 was originally imported to and sold in Canada. I have the GM Canada import documentation which shows the block heater and rear window defroster as factory installed options....Don