Grey aluminum cover for replacement water heater?

[JoleneAS]

That'd be awesome, thank you! A picture would be amazing.

[Dingo Girl]

Originally Posted by JW84345

Its been a while, but I believe I cut out a slot for the catch mechanism on the new WH. I will see if I can find pictures.

😊😊😊😊😊😊 that would be great!

[JW84345]

Hi, I found pictures from May of 2009 when I replaced the WH on my old 1969 Overlander. I purchased the replacement on Amazon. It had a white steel cover. I always tried to keep that coach as original as possible, so wanted to retain the original looks (yet still enjoy hot water!).

Just to be clear, the original WH cover was stainless steel, not aluminum. It had a screw type clasp to hold it on. The new used the typical spring tab and slot, so I cut a slot using a Dremel tool. I also reused the vent cover. See the attached photo's. Good luck.

[Dingo Girl]

Thanks for finding the pictures & posting them.
My 67 cover is different so my search will continue.

[JoleneAS]

My cover is different as well. Placing a new slot in the center of my old cover to accommodate a new heater was considered, but I think the vent on my old cover goes right up to the mid-line where the slot would need to be placed.

[Dingo Girl]

Has any one used their old water heater cover like mine shown in first picture?
I'm thinking if I cut an opening in the old cover at the vent then put a louver in it.
Am I way off on this?

[GMFL]

Cutting in the vent grid from the new cover will look great!

[Dingo Girl]

Yes exactly what I'm thinking!

[gdanderson]

I purchased a 2' X 2' piece of Alclad from Vintage trailer supply. Took that and new white water heater cover to local Heating Contractor that was large enough to have a fabrication shop and asked then to cut and bend the Alclad to fit over the new white door. I then riveted the Alclad over the top of the new white door. Before riveting I did paint the white door silver so any parts that did not get covered by the Alclad would not show white.

Greg Anderson
Wisconsin

[ALUMINUMINUM]

It's a troubling task to preserve the originality of the cover. I have a file with dozens of images of hideous water heater “installations” that proves its aesthetic difficulty.

I mimicked the original 1968 Bowen louvered theme. I'm not thrilled with the boring appearance of mine, but it's highly functional, and durable.

It's pretty easy to make an aluminum door. A $10 sheet of .040 5056 is easily worked. An aircraft fabrication shop punched my louvers. At the Detroit Autorama there was a guy punching louvers for $2 each. My home-made door stands proud of the skin by 9/16”. It covers an Atwood 6gal, electronic ignition, dual-fuel. It has a Stainless Steel screen lining to prevent insect intrusion. You don't need the pilot hole with electronic ignition.

It's fastened with four ¼-20 socket-head button screws to foil unauthorized interests. I only open my water heater door once a year for Winterization.

If I had ZERO fabrication skills, and no interest in learning, asking a HVAC shop to make a door would be my solution.