Id put that money towards getting the standard heating working as it should It really is quite warm when everything works as vw intended
Have quite good heating just looking for a little boost. wish i could get hold of a pair of gen exchangers
I noticed quite a difference when I set up the thermostat so the cooling flaps were properly closed with the engine cold - more air pressure through the heat exchangers. And I dont know if the plastic in the fan can take the hot air if everything works properly - it is quite hot.
£89!!!! Are these people for real!!! I purchased a brand new Bosch blower motor £25 and intend to wire up a switch etc for a few quid and just plumb in some pipes( not done yet but looking at £30 tops!!) Save your money, insulate the van, ensure no draughts from door seals and ensure your normal heating systems works well as mentioned. Check the cables are working correctly -ie heaters on full power when dial on max , no leaks from the air system and most importantly insulate all the pipes from the back(on the body) to the cab . I just use that reflective insulated foil from b&q for using begind radiators and cable ties. Amazing the difference it makes, not perfect but almost there. I then used exhaust wrap around the heat exchangers but a lot of people not keen on that but it helps a lot. I wrapped brass foil on the exchangers first so the wrap does not touch the steelwork, to reduce water retention on the steel(sad I know but...)
If you really want an extra fan you can buy the same fan as in that kit for less than £25 on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251230460157 And just wire it to a switch on the dash. Or if you want to be able to control the speed of the fan there are plenty of fan speed controllers on ebay for less that £10, and so you could do the same as that kit for less than £35. Have been thinking of doing this myself, but as everyone suggests, have been overhauling and insulating the proper heating system and will see how that then performs before going down this route. Nick.
Theres a company in america that sells repro heat exhcangers built to the same spec as original vw ones Somebody linked to them a while ago When i have a lump of cash spare ill be importing a pair for sure
If you haven't got a decent source of heat (in the form of exchangers that actually do something), I can't really see the point of just blowing more lukewarm air. Said it before, but the key's a decent set of oriniginal exchangers. They work so much better than repros.
I fitted a "marine engine room" fan (about £30). but came to the conclusion that the standard VW system is better. As stated above, the original VW system when working, is perfect.
That is a Bilge pump fan, about £22 from any chandlery. It'll fit nicely in the long tube between front and back of bus if you use a couple of rad reducing hoses (ebay £6 each) and wire it in to your existing blower. But make sure everything at the heat exchanger and flap valve end is good first! It will help as it creates some negative pressure in the system which reduces the 'blow by' at the exchangers which is where much of the leaking occurs. I'd also agree that lagging the long pipe is a good idea, I have some Plumbers lagging and cable ties of the correct size if you want to pop by and steal some. FOC.
I cant seem to find the post the link was in and it appears i havent bookmarked it Hopefully another member will be able to remember the post and point us in the right direction Original heat exchangers have more fins inside them and are finned in the internals as well thats why they create a lot more heat than the normal repros Original heat exchangers,the heating system working as it should and lagging the long pipe from the back to the front will give you more heat than you can cope with
Its a Marine fan I got also - a lot of stuff on those websites and although a lot expensive some bargains are to be had. I was toying with the idea of repairing an old heat exchanger, giving it a wider body and making more fins etc etc inside - really these things should be stainless by now, but nobody would buy another so the company would go out of business!
Aye they dont make them like that anymore - although the Danish ones I have - more fins that that piccie but not as many as the others. So even if you get old originals they will be rotten so you cant even use the fins off them, if you were to do some welding magic?
Do you have the link to these - repro exchangers are rubbish, it would be great to get some that are built to the original spec and actually get some warmth!
I cant find the link kate The link is in a thread on the forum somwhere as i remember chatting in the thread i just cant seem to find it Cheers for posting the pic snotty it helps to show others the difference between rubbish repros and the originals and why they give out a lot more heat
Just did a search - was this the link and the thread??? http://vwparts.aircooled.net/Heat-Exchanger-Heater-Box-Right-043-255-108H-p/043-255-108h.htm http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/cold-commute.18863/page-3#post-304036