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Mon Feb 24, 2003 12:08 am

I have a 64 bus and my question today is...what is the proper way to connect the heater boxes to the body so hot air flows up to my feet?

When I open the deck lid, what I see is:

-fan shroud that is capped off on both ends
-two holes in the engine tin (approx. 3"s in dia.)
-aftermarket exhaust blocking left half of driver side hole in tin
-two heater boxes that have open holes on both ends

Okay, so I didn't just open the deck lid, I had to crwal under the car to see all of that. Has anyone else experienced this same view? What is the correct configuration to hook up the heater boxes? It appears that the caps from the fan shroud should be pulled, hoses should run through the holes in the engine tin, to the rear end of the heater boxes, and hoses should connect the front end of the heater boxes to the body. Is this right? What do I do about the exahust pipe that is in the way of running a hose through hole in the engine tin? What kind of hose do I use, and what about hose chaffing when it passes through the tin? Are their grommets that are meant to be used?

Thanks,
Brian

Mon Feb 24, 2003 12:47 am

You've got the connections down right.You can use a flexible foil-type hose from the fan shroud long enough to pass thru the holes in the tin and connect to the heater box. It will be flexible enough to get past the exhaust header, you're right about the grommets too- they fit into the holes in the engine tin. Be sure to use the correct diameter hose, and hose clamps on your connections.
Kris

Mon Feb 24, 2003 8:06 am

Don't forget to hook up your cables and to attach some hoses from the boxes to the body.

Mon Feb 24, 2003 1:27 pm

I have the foil type hoses connecting to a metal sleeve that goes through the hole in the tin. I guess those would be the grommets you were asking about? But they still tear up pretty quick, I replace them about every two months on a daily driver. That's four clamps for each hose, two on the bottomn and two on the top. I also don't stretch the hoses out at all, I try and keep them compact. If anybody has a better method, I'd really like to hear about it.

Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:48 am

Thanks for the reassurance Kris. Have you had any problem with hose resting against exhaust? Is the material durable enough to withstand the heat and not melt? My exhaust is so "in the way" that any hose will have to bend around it and definitely make constant contact.

Tue Feb 25, 2003 11:08 am

I have the same setup on my bus Kim and it's a daily driver also. The metal sleeve inside the hose keeps it from cutting all the way through, but you would think there was a grommet to go in that sharp hole. I think there must be a rubber strip that can slide over that sharp edge and protect the hose and not melt from the heat.

Tue Feb 25, 2003 3:29 pm

I just checked with Wolfsburg West and they carry the rubber grommets that protect the fresh air tubes from getting cut on the engine tin. I'll have to pick up a couple on my next trip to lovely Corona...