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Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:53 am

I'm in the process of resurrecting my gas heater. It looks to be all "there" and the individual parts look good, so it may not take much.

Here's my question: instead of running it off the gas tank, could I use a gas cell or tank like one used on a boat? My idea is to give it's own fuel source.

Any thoughts, or reasons why I couldn't or shouldn't? I figure the heater has it's own fuel pump, why not give it it's own safe tank...

Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:46 am

The only place I could see mounting a spare tank is in the trunk. If you get pushed into someone, this could be dangerous...or maybe not. The factory tank is up front.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:29 am

the heater really does not use that much gas. No real danger of running it low in the main tank. Be careful when making changes. Remember, it is hard to improve on German Engineering. Good luck with your project.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:21 am

For me, it's just easier to have it draw from the main tank. It doesn't draw much, and it's one less item to worry about.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:30 am

Thanks for the forum...

So, from the tank it will come. Time to run all the gas out and plumb it ;)

The saga continues...

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:38 am

hey brother, If the tank is out of a thing there should already be a t at the bottom of the tank to run to the fuel rail and the heater. If not make sure the one you get at the hardware is metal and not plastic. Good luck...

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:53 am

My original tank was full of rust, so I bought another from the local Bug shop. It's not originally a VW Thing tank, so no dual.

But yes, of course, a proper fitting is in order. I think I have a BMW Air cooled motorcycle fuel splitter that should be just the ticket.

This project will probably happen sooner than later. It was 23F this morning when I motored to work. Not that bad, really, no wind to speak of, but it sure would be nice to have heat.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:30 pm

It was about 15 degrees warmer than that here. It isn't bad if the sun is shining in on you. Just wear your wool socks.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:22 pm

I think they're rated at a pint an hour.

Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:02 am

What type of heater do you have, B series or South Wind heater?

Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:10 am

Stock B series.

16F coming in to work this morning. She cranked right up (I keep her in a car port).

Driving without a heater is no drama. Heck, I worked in Antarctica for 12 years, so cold is "relative" to me. It would be nice, though, to have a wee bit o' hot air.

I plan on taking out the heater and testing it all, then hooking it up and hopefully getting heat soo.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:20 pm

You can test your heater installed in the car. I have not seen any explosions from these heaters, heard a lot fo BS.
you will either get no heat at all, black smoke from too much fuel, not enough air coming from the combustion fan motor and or some minor backfire which souds like it is poping.
I have fires from the engine wiring or glass fuel filters in the engine compartment.
I have laugh my rear off each time I see or hear guys talk about the South Winds starting fires
If you haven't started the heater up in 5 YEARS, replace the fuel pump diaphram/ actuator and the valve seat plate.
I turned on one heater that had been stored in a garge for over 5 years and luckily it started and worked ok. but I rebuild the fuel pump and combustion chamber.
When the fuel pump diaphram gets dry with age or not being used for years sometime you will see fuel spraying out of the fuel pump bearing on the same side of the fuel pump to combustion chamber fan coupling.
All you do there is replcaing the actuator/ diaphram and while you have it apart the valve seat plate.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 5:24 pm

After over 50 years of VW running gas heaters in cars, if the heaters had proved fatal or even dangerous, I suspect we would have heard about it.

Look how loudly we heard when the bug bumper was no longer considered "safe"

Still, I know of more than one VW dealership (and more than one VW factory tech) that back in the day, refused to work on any car with a gas heater.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 7:24 pm

My dad had a story about working on a 411/412 (not sure which) back in the day. The gas heater decided to pop, and the front end of that car went with it (its a T4, pull the engine and crush the car :P).

But, thats not to say they are all bad. Mine works in the Thing. Same with the fuel filter in the engine compartment. VW stuck the filter there for how many years, and you only hear a few bad stories about them.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:22 pm

yellow73kubel wrote: Same with the fuel filter in the engine compartment. VW stuck the filter there for how many years, and you only hear a few bad stories about them.

Are you sure VW put them there? My owners manual does not mention any fuel filter. Neither does the owners manual for a 65 Beetle. I can't find any factor photos of a fuel filter in the engine compartment. I'm pretty sure that they were just put there by owners and mechanics just to have easy access to it.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:09 pm

howiesfamily wrote: Are you sure VW put them there? My owners manual does not mention any fuel filter. Neither does the owners manual for a 65 Beetle. I can't find any factor photos of a fuel filter in the engine compartment. I'm pretty sure that they were just put there by owners and mechanics just to have easy access to it.

Hmm, that is weird, I always thought the factory installed them, and in the engine compartment. I have heard people talk a lot about moving them out of the engine area, and under the car, where they are safe from the heat.

Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:01 pm

bmwloco wrote: I'm in the process of resurrecting my gas heater. It looks to be all "there" and the individual parts look good, so it may not take much.

Here's my question: instead of running it off the gas tank, could I use a gas cell or tank like one used on a boat? My idea is to give it's own fuel source.

Any thoughts, or reasons why I couldn't or shouldn't? I figure the heater has it's own fuel pump, why not give it it's own safe tank...

I have a 74 with no heater boxes. But I do have a gas heater in a box.

I have everything except the fuel pump.

We have been considering running it on propane instead. Being on a pressurized fuel tank would end the need of a expensive fuel pump.

Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:23 am

I would like to find out more about the gas heater that "popped" in the 411/412 and took the front end of the car with it. I'm sorry but this sounds like one of the those far fecthed stores of "these heaters are just gas bombs".
I would have to have pictures and see statements from the parties involved.
There are a lot of myths going around about these heaters and they just are not true.

Myths I have heard about South Wind Gas Heaters and heaters in general.

1. The myth talked about above" the heater popped and it took the whole front end with it" . ( Prove it lets see pictures, insurance claims, etc.)

2. My heater exploded but did not do any damage to the trunk area r truck lid on my Bug. (When did any heater explode in a VW, look at all of the safety features in these heaters).

3. My heater was shooting a foot long flame out the back of it, the heater had been sitting for 35 years. ( This is not possible.)

4. These heater are not supported By VW when they were made.
(South Wind and Eberspacher were offical VWOA options So Techs had to work on them at the dealerships).

If your heaters pops or backfires, shut the unit off, you have something wrong that needs to be easily fixed.
If your heater doesn't put out any heat, follow the directions in the service manual, check your coil and points. Points on the end of the fuel pump should be gapped to .018.
I can teach my 10 year old niece on how to repair and service these heaters.
Make sure the power wire to your heater is not hooked up to a fuse terminal of an 8, it should be on a 16g fuse

What kind of heater are you running in your 74 THING tona?

Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:56 am

I've had my heater backfire so violently that it knocked fuses out of the fuse box, but no damage to anything. Scared the hell out of me though...

The thermostat wasn't working, so I was flipping it on and off. NOT recommended.

Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:34 pm

kme_eone wrote:

4. These heater are not supported By VW when they were made.
(South Wind and Eberspacher were offical VWOA options So Techs had to work on them at the dealerships).

I have dealer bulletins for servicing those heaters AND they are M-coded options so I agree.