Depending on "how" cold it is, and if the wind is blowing, it could be
enough. I've done it several times without a blanket and without cowl plugs
at 20 degrees with out any problems. I would try to park the plane near or
in as much shelter as I could find, even pushing it nose first up close to a
building to keep the wind out of the cowling or at least facing the plane
away from the wind.

The blankets will give you the most "bang for your buck". Put a blanket on
the cowl, plug up the openings in the cowl and plug in the heater. If you
have access to a "trouble light", in addition to the tanis, you could lay
the trouble light in the bottom of the cowl for extra heat, just keep it
away from the carburetor. (but you mentioned you had an Archer, so unless
you feel like removing the entire top half of the cowl, this doesn't seem
reasonable)

If it's seriously cold, (drastic measures coming soon....) you have the
option of draining the oil and taking it with you, heating it up and keeping
it warm, then pouring it back in the engine before you leave.

There is also a method of carrying a short piece of 3" diameter stove pipe
and a large propane torch. Insert the stove pipe over the exhaust pipe,
light the torch and insert it in the lower end of the stove pipe, let the
heat rise up the pipe through the exhaust system. I think FE Potts used a
gasoline blow torch for this method as there was always gasoline available
from the tanks. I think he also had a method of using a small Weber grill
and some charcoal, setting it under the spinner then draping a blanket clear
over the entire cowl to catch all the heat. Drastic but effective and no
doubt a bit smelly.

I would try to think about what is available at your destination
(electricity? propane? fuel oil?) and take what ever kind of heater I could
use along with me, then obtain what ever kind of fuel it took at my
destination. A piece of scat tube or flexible clothes dryer tube or FE
Potts stove pipe can be used to route the heat up through the bottom of the
cowl. You could carry a 1500 watt ceramic heater or one of those hot air
paint strippers along with you for this purpose, it would also allow you to
pre-heat the cabin before you depart.

After you get it started, just take it easy and let everything come up to
temperature before pushing it to the firewall.

Jim



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