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Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:02 am

Looking for some insight and help to get some warm, if not hot, air up to the defrosters in my 74 Westy.

Finally got the South Wind Gas Heater running and now face the decision making process of how to optimize it. Of course, precious warm air to the cab is most important [tired of wrapping my legs in a blanket] but that won’t do it for the windshield!

I’m thinking of attaching a blower duct to the Heat Tunnel directly.

Or

Fabricating a separate duct that won’t interfere with the Heat Tunnel and going into the Heater Tree.

Would like you thoughts or experience in raising the temperature

I’m willing to:

1) Mount the Gas Heater in the Sink Cabinet or replace the Sink Cabinet with a Jump Seat to reduce the flow distance and maximize the flow and temperature.

2) Mount the Gas Heater in the Engine Compartment where it usually would go, but wonder about air velocity and heat loss via the Heat Tunnel. I could fabricate a duct into the space under the bed but that doesn’t get heat to the defroster. Maybe branch the duct to heat via the under the bed and the Heater Tunnel?

Here’s a pic that may help explain what I’m trying to do… …

Looking for some insight and help to get some warm, if not hot, air up to the defrosters in my 74 Westy.

Finally got the South Wind Gas Heater running and now face the decision making process of how to optimize it. Of course, precious warm air to the cab is most important [tired of wrapping my legs in a blanket] but that won’t do it for the windshield!

I’m thinking of attaching a blower duct to the Heat Tunnel directly.

Or

Fabricating a separate duct that won’t interfere with the Heat Tunnel and going into the Heater Tree.

Would like you thoughts or experience in raising the temperature

I’m willing to:

1) Mount the Gas Heater in the Sink Cabinet or replace the Sink Cabinet with a Jump Seat to reduce the flow distance and maximize the flow and temperature.

2) Mount the Gas Heater in the Engine Compartment where it usually would go, but wonder about air velocity and heat loss via the Heat Tunnel. I could fabricate a duct into the space under the bed but that doesn’t get heat to the defroster. Maybe branch the duct to heat via the under the bed and the Heater Tunnel?

Here’s a pic that may help explain what I’m trying to do… …

Thanking you in advance!

Thanking you in advance!

Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:05 am

Something here sounds a little off.. I have a 71 and my only heat is from the heater boxes and everything is stock and I get lots of warm/ hot air cranking through the vents.. in fact when my face gets to hot I switch it to the feet.... are there other possible underlying problems here like with your heater boxes.. or fan shroud/ engine tin that may be causing a lack of heat?

Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:42 am

No wonder your bus is so cold, before you worry about more heat fix the floor and get some doors :P

My thinking on tapping into the heat tube was mounting at the rear or in the engine compartment and entering the duct with a Y just ahead of the torsion tube. You'd have to come up with a spring loaded damper to prevent the heat from backflowing towards the engine at idle though.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:58 am

Hey busdaddy,

guess you're right about the floor and doors, you got me there.

Pic is from a donor bus that gave up its cabin floor; thought I'd take a pic then figuring I'd get that South Wind going some time in the future.

"Back Flow" damper makes sense, didn't think of that, thanks!