Heat question

[MrBreeze]

Well, now that my 77 Westy is running well, it's time to move onto
the next problem.

The brain surgeons that installed my engine neglected to install
heater boxes. They handed the old rusted ones to me when I picked up
the van......lovely.

They said I could temporarily run flex heater hose in place of the
boxes, I would just have constant heat running. Does this make sense?
The problem is, I just don't have the funds right now to get new ones
after sinking all of the money I did repairing the damage they did on
the install.

Is this foolish? Am I risking any problems?

Thanks yet again!

-=Rob

[keifernet]

errr.... I have a question????? if they diddn't put your heater boxes on then what did they bolt to your heads for exhaust to flow through? Unless your talking a type 1 upright in a late bus and they put J tubes on ...now that I can understand.... ?????
can you clarify the confusion....?

[MrBreeze]

OK, just crawled uned and this is what I see.

From the front of the bus there is the fat long pipe going back which then splits. On the right side (driver side), it goes into a hose, then a box....so that looks ok. The left side doesn't have a hose or a box. The pipe ends and I see the other end of it under the engine.

I hope this makes sense to someone. The mechanic said I can put a flex hose between there and I'm not hip with carbon poisoning.

-=Rob

[jeremysmithatshawdotca]

That sounds really wierd. Really. Can you take a picture of it for us? Jeremy

[Karl]

It sounds like you are confusing heater boxes with flapper valves.
The heater boxes are the large rectangular boxes that the exhaust flows thru. Go here:
http://www.bus-boys.com/page34.html
R is the heater box.
S is the heater flapper valve,
There is a connecting pipe bewteen the valve and box, but it is not pictured.
It is shown in this pic:
http://www.bug-bits.freeserve.co.uk/ramva/fiche/t202410.gif
#1 is the pipe between the flapper valve and box on the 72-74 and 79 engines. The bottom hole is round.
#2 is the pipe on 75-78 engines. The bottom hole is oval.
There are lefts and rights.
The heater boxes on your 77 is #11 but only the left is shown. #11A is 78/79.
This info applies to USA version buses....

[jeremysmithatshawdotca]

Aha, yes that would make sense. Very good Goldfever!

[MrBreeze]

You are correct, sir. Sorry about the confusion.

I have one flapper valve, on the driver side. The other side is missing. What I discovered yesterday is that the one that IS there has a broken cable. So I ordered a new cable, and while I'm waiting, use wire ties in place of the wire to keep the flap open. So I now have heat.

I also bought a 3" inline blower that I'm going to add to the front pipe to help move the air better.

Now, regarding the missing valve. Any idea where I can get 2 1/2" hose to replace it for now? I've tried auto parts stores, home depot and a plumbing supply house.

Thanks!

-=Rob

[jeremysmithatshawdotca]

You could try a flex hose for venting a gas clothes dryer, cut it, roll it smaller, and then wrap it in duct tape as a temporary fix. You should be able to find that at home depot. Jeremy