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Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:35 pm

My '66 deluxe has two holes under the drivers seat for heater knobs, one of which is occupied. It looks like the empty hole has wear around it -- like it had a knob at one point possibly? My m-code says something about a delete plate and I think it means the plugged heater branch near the back where one tube goes to the back seat. So, should I have another heater knob hooked up to the left heater box to control the heat in back?

Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:32 am

The single heat knob controls both cables.
I think the other hole is either something someon added or possibly for a gas heater. Does it appear to have had a gas heater installed?

The "plugged tube" is normal for a Standard or Deluxe Bus as one heater box goes directly to the back seat outlet and one comes up front instead of both heading up front.

What does your M-code plate say?

Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:04 am

The code I was referring to:
002 - USA sealed beam headlights, Pre-heat flap delete

As for the other hole...it looks pretty stock. I will take a picture when I get home. I also have the full m-code at home so I'll post that. These pics are some I found in the gallery of my bus before I bought it. What might be evidence of a gas heater? Is this where it would have been?

Here's a pic -- there is some sort of knob but it isn't there anymore.

Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:15 am

edgruberman wrote: What might be evidence of a gas heater? Is this where it would have been?

That is where the gas heater would go. What's that cable that seems to be just hanging right there? Maybe that is the no longer connected gas heater control cable?

Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:18 am

edgruberman wrote:
Here's a pic -- there is some sort of knob but it isn't there anymore.

The smaller white knob on the left is a gas heater knob.

Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:59 am

Okay, so I think I can be sure it had a gas heater. It looks like there could be some aftermarket ones and some dealer installed ones. Is there any way to tell? The engine compartment pic shows a delete plate in the tire well and maybe the knob is a giveaway. Any clues? I am so excited...there is ANOTHER thing I can try to find for my bus.

Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:31 pm

Those are controls for an Eberspacher BN4 6-volt gas heater.
That big wad of fiberglass is covering a rectangular hole next to your wheelwell. The heater duct passes through that. Do a gallery search for "BN4" so you know what you are looking for.

That switch lights up when turned on.

Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:38 pm

Here is a picture that shows the BN4 installed:

Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:50 pm

Major Woody wrote: Those are controls for an Eberspacher BN4 6-volt gas heater.
That big wad of fiberglass is covering a rectangular hole next to your wheelwell. The heater duct passes through that. Do a gallery search for "BN4" so you know what you are looking for.

That switch lights up when turned on.

I have the same ivory switch for my Stewart-Warner heater, except it is to the right of the regular heater knob. Did SW and Eberspacher use the same switch? Mine doesn't light up and I doubt that one does, but I could be wrong. Could have had an SW in there.

Sat Aug 12, 2006 3:28 pm

arthurnugen wrote: Major Woody wrote: Those are controls for an Eberspacher BN4 6-volt gas heater.
That big wad of fiberglass is covering a rectangular hole next to your wheelwell. The heater duct passes through that. Do a gallery search for "BN4" so you know what you are looking for.

That switch lights up when turned on.

I have the same ivory switch for my Stewart-Warner heater, except it is to the right of the regular heater knob. Did SW and Eberspacher use the same switch? Mine doesn't light up and I doubt that one does, but I could be wrong. Could have had an SW in there.

They used different switches. that picture doesn't look like a German switch to me. If you pull the switch out and can turn it to click it on it isn't a BN4 switch.

BN4 switch-

it lights up and this is the correct cover-

Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:37 pm

Here are the manuals for both the Eberspacher and the Southwind heaters.
http://classicvw.org/eberspacher/

Both put the switch below the drivers seat, except for a few special heaters. These were mounted under the dash, on the passengers side, and were very rare.

Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:50 pm

So both heaters would have needed to remove the spare tire well? It would seem at first glance that the SW did and the Eberspacher didn't.

Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:49 pm

All I know is my switch is under the passenger seat in what looks like a stock switch area. Go figure.

Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:56 pm

With the Southwind, you had to remove the spare tire well on a walkthru.
With the Eberspacher, you did not.

I don't know about the switches.

Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:03 pm

edgruberman wrote: So both heaters would have needed to remove the spare tire well? It would seem at first glance that the SW did and the Eberspacher didn't.

My SW is pretty bulky compared to the Eber, which is pretty streamlined. Of course, my camper was built from a panel (no rear vents) so the spare tire well was not an issue with the bench seat arrangement.

Sat Aug 12, 2006 11:34 pm

edgruberman wrote: Okay, so I think I can be sure it had a gas heater. It looks like there could be some aftermarket ones and some dealer installed ones. Is there any way to tell? The engine compartment pic shows a delete plate in the tire well and maybe the knob is a giveaway. Any clues? I am so excited...there is ANOTHER thing I can try to find for my bus.
I used to own that bus.

it had a stewart warner southwind gas heater that was removed before I got the bus.

there are very few things that the bus is missing.

Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:00 am

Cool! I'm glad to hear a little history about my bus. I am not going to try to find a heater to put in it after all...I like the spare tire well where it is. I might make an effort to block off the hole between the cabin and the engine compartment a little better to keep any fumes out. For what it is worth, I am taking good care of it and keeping it original with only old stock repairs here and there.

Sun Aug 13, 2006 9:49 am

Hi edgruberman,
Get rid of the loose fiberglass in the engine compartment. Seal off the hole with sheetmetal instead. Even if the fiberglass main body stayed where it is. Bits of it will come off and clog off cooling slots on the engine under the cooling tins.

Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:11 am

Here is the heater knob in the Casino Kombi - which is the first bus I have owned that is plumbed for a gas heater (besides a fatchick)...

And here is the ductwork with the control cable and elec wire still in place...

Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:53 am