dryer element
When I was in the business, you could get electric dryer elements that were not in a frame. I think they were made by GEM (Gemline). I used them a lot because they were cheap (and so am I). I used to buy them from Appliance Parts Center in National City, CA (near San Diego). As far as converting it to gas, you need a donar machine. I bought used Westinghouse stack sets, and I always managed to find them with electric dryers. I would then buy a used Westinghouse gas dryer (non-stack type) and pull the gas burner, back plate, flame tube, and wiring harness. I removed the wiring and heating back plate from the electric dryer, and put the gas parts in. I would not bother putting the electric parts in the other dryer, electric dryers sold for next to nothing in San Diego. I just kept the timer and motor for parts. One time, I had a customer who needed an electric dryer, but I was busy repairing some other machines for customers who needed them right away. The man who needed the dryer was game, so I talked him through putting an element in one. He used my tools, disassembled the dryer, put a new element in the back (could have been a Westinghouse)- stretching it as needed, cleaning the machine, lubing bronze bushings, and reassembling it. He was thrilled! I offered him a discount for doing the work, but he insisted on paying the full price because of what he learned. He then went home and bragged to his wife about how he fixed the dryer.
