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Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:46 pm

Hello one and all, looking for replacement heater channels for my 56 oval. All I seem to be able to find for replacements is later model heater channels. Does anybody reproduce heater channels for the oval? Thanks :D

Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:06 am

In short, No. Not at the moment, but I expect in future someone will.

I am in UK, but I think my answer will apply to USA also?

If you cant find NOS ( not easy but possible, depends how much you want to pay)
You can use genuine ( Mexi :!: painted grey) 68- but you need to do a little metal work on them to make them look correct. Dont use the pre67 (painted black) Brazil repro's they are cheap but rubbish.
But you can now at least get good correct oval pattern bottom plates from Wolfparts, easy airmail as they are in sections:

http://www.wolfparts.com/

Wolf is Honest, trustworthy, and a very nice man too. :D

I used them on my split and was very happy with them, you can see them here:

http://www.vwgarden.co.uk/annas50resto.html

Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:10 pm

Where do I get these Mexican heater channels? Thanks for your responce.

Sat Oct 18, 2008 7:30 am

kdfwagon wrote: Where do I get these Mexican heater channels? Thanks for your responce. Bump...

Sat Oct 18, 2008 7:09 pm

I got mine from CIP1 they advertize here on Samba in the banner ads, I think they are Brazilian and yes they are cheap, and I think my drivers side one had the running board screw holes about a 1/4'' too far forward, I used an old pair from like 10 years ago but I just ordered another set about a year ago for another early car and the quality looked a lot better, the new ones have a seat belt mount on them now in the middle but they are hollow and have none of the modern style heat outlet stampings and no inner heat channel, no heat inlet or outlet either, you have to cut that all out yourself but for early '56 and back they are the most correct, heres mine, they do a fine job of holding the car together compared to the rusty scraps that were there before :

Sat Oct 18, 2008 7:50 pm

billmetric wrote: I got mine from CIP1 they advertize here on Samba in the banner ads, I think they are Brazilian and yes they are cheap, and I think my drivers side one had the running board screw holes about a 1/4'' too far forward, I used an old pair from like 10 years ago but I just ordered another set about a year ago for another early car and the quality looked a lot better, the new ones have a seat belt mount on them now in the middle but they are hollow and have none of the modern style heat outlet stampings and no inner heat channel, no heat inlet or outlet either, you have to cut that all out yourself but for early '56 and back they are the most correct, heres mine, they do a fine job of holding the car together compared to the rusty scraps that were there before :
That's great info, thanks.

Anymore pics?

Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:28 pm

kdfwagon wrote: Hello one and all, looking for replacement heater channels for my 56 oval. All I seem to be able to find for replacements is later model heater channels. Does anybody reproduce heater channels for the oval? Thanks :D

Search thesamba classified ads or post a wanted ad. I got lucky, scored on a very clean, original 54, entire front clip and perfect heater channels to replace the bad stuff on my 54 Oval...found them right here on thesamba classifieds by posting a wanted ad...Good Luck.... :wink:

Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:45 pm

heres a few more pics from my gallery of the el cheapo Zito Pereira ones from CIP :

Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:54 pm

if you cant source out a set from a parts car and you have to but aftermarket...i would suggest the econo heater channels from cip. no heater outlets/inlets and no heat tube inside (so if you want heat, dont use these), but i found the shape/curvature to be "most" like original channels.

(disclaimer...we are dealing with a repro item so you do have to be wary about fit & finish, bolt holes lining up perfectly, etc.... :wink: )

link to part...

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D111%2D801%2D045%2DD

not the greatest pics, but in my car....

Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:28 am

I'll agree that the best opt is original channels from dry parts car. They are out there, but you have to lie in wait for while usually.

I bought the CIP to use a donor material for my '51. I have a couple oval channels as well, and hope to have enough to fab something correct.

I was disappointed in the CIP ones though, at the forward bend, there is some ripple/kinking of the steel that I don't see in the pics above. Anyone else seen this??

Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:52 am

Mr. Bungle wrote: if you cant source out a set from a parts car and you have to but aftermarket...i would suggest the econo heater channels from cip. no heater outlets/inlets and no heat tube inside (so if you want heat, dont use these), but i found the shape/curvature to be "most" like original channels.

(disclaimer...we are dealing with a repro item so you do have to be wary about fit & finish, bolt holes lining up perfectly, etc.... :wink: )

link to part...

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D111%2D801%2D045%2DD

not the greatest pics, but in my car....

Are you sure those were the Zito's?

IGP makes what looks to be a very nice channel but the only source I have found in the states is Wolfsburg West and they only sell the ones set up for heat. Those appear to be nice but I have not bought any yet. IGP makes them with and without heat. The ones without heat would be a great starting point for a split and early oval. The ones WW sells should work well for you.

Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:57 am

I bought the Demark heater channels from Cip1 and was very happy with the quality.

Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:24 am

splitjunkie wrote: Are you sure those were the Zito's?

when did i call them zitos?

Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:42 am

Mr. Bungle wrote: splitjunkie wrote: Are you sure those were the Zito's?

when did i call them zitos?

You didn't, Billmetric did..........

Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:43 pm

they do look like Zitos, the ripple is up front just behind the "firewall" I can just see a slight ripple in the greenish ones above, probably a gamble whether they will have a bad ripple or not ,but unless you dont plan on running carpet the ripples wont be noticable, I've never pulled back a carpet and found pristine smooth metal anyway, always a bunch of carpet nails, seam sealer and plenty of unsightly messy glue

Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:36 pm

johnshenry wrote: Mr. Bungle wrote: splitjunkie wrote: Are you sure those were the Zito's?

when did i call them zitos?

You didn't, Billmetric did..........

that's right. :wink:

i honestly cant remember the brand name of the channels that i bought...i just know that they are the econo channels from cip (like the ones in the link i posted above).

the difference i see between mine and billmetrics are that bill's have what look like a provision for a seat belt at the b pillar area (mine dont) and also the area of the a pillar looks a little more defined (bend/edge rather than curve...but it might just be the shadow & lighting of the pic) whereas the area of the a pillar on mine seem a little more like a curve.

i'm not saying one is better than the other (and they may very well be the same brand...we all know the quality of repro parts and how they change over the years)...i'm just pointing out what i see. 8)