TheSamba.com :: View topic - Heater control box with dump tubes

Thu May 26, 2011 11:41 am

I know they came on the 1979 models, but what other years did the heater control boxes have the extra connection for the dump tubes?

I have one on one side and not on the driver side. I have a dump tube for that side, just not the control box. Im hoping that knowing the date range will assist in my hunt to track one of these down.

I have 3 really nice control boxes (2 drivers and 1 passenger side) but all of them are missing the extra port for the dump tube.

thanks!

Thu May 26, 2011 11:51 am

Got them on my bus, and I'm pretty sure they were'79 only. Recently restored mine back to their original color:

Thu May 26, 2011 12:13 pm

They are on my '78 also.

Thu May 26, 2011 1:28 pm

My Cali 78 has them.

Thu May 26, 2011 1:31 pm

78 & 79

Thu May 26, 2011 1:49 pm

SGKent wrote: 78 & 79

Absolutely.

Thu May 26, 2011 2:58 pm

I thought they were only for automatics.......

Am I wrong here?

I had them on my '79 Auto Westy.

Thu May 26, 2011 4:47 pm

Collie wrote:
Am I wrong here?

Yes.

What would the logic be? Automatics need to dump heat and manuals don't?

Thu May 26, 2011 6:07 pm

Collie wrote: I thought they were only for automatics.......

Am I wrong here?

I had them on my '79 Auto Westy.

People seem to feel they were an emission control device. By dumping the heater air underneath it lowered the temperature of the fuel tank and lessened evaporation. I don't think they had much if anything to do with engine cooling. VW eliminated them on the air cooled Vanagons which had the tank located far away from the flapper valves.

Thu May 26, 2011 8:36 pm

EZ Gruv wrote: Collie wrote:
Am I wrong here?

Yes.

What would the logic be? Automatics need to dump heat and manuals don't?

Hey, I dont know what the logic would be but its something I read here a long time ago....

I took them off and all was well with the world.........

Wed Dec 19, 2012 12:20 pm

Resurrecting an old thread with a question.

I know of a 77 that has them, is this an aberration ?

Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:58 pm

phoneguy wrote: Resurrecting an old thread with a question.

I know of a 77 that has them, is this an aberration ?
Tough to say, 77 production dated 78 model?, transplanted later engine?, who knows?

Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:23 pm

phoneguy wrote: Resurrecting an old thread with a question.

I know of a 77 that has them, is this an aberration ?

Could be just a part of the great transporter stew.

Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:24 pm

Anyone have the part number(s) for the flexiable cardboard tubes that are between the heater box dump and the metal exhaust tubes?

Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:31 pm

If you really want them then you can get such tubing from any decent FLAPS. It will run fine without them.

Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:15 am

i have consistantly seen them on GE engines
which have hydrollic lifters (78-79)
and on vanogons also........

so if that 77 has a 78-78 GE engine
the dump tubes and controll boxes came with the engine

Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:50 pm

My bus is a 77, though oddly, the M plate decodes to say its a 77. More confusing is that it was built 7/27/77
Mine is the bus phoneguy is talking about, it does have the dump tubes.
Mine is a GE engine as stated above, what does that mean though? Why would my 77 bus, have an engine coded to 78/79? Or is my bus really a closeted 78?

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Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:36 pm

the change year was 1978. Someone has put a later engine in yours. That said check the front VIN with the rear Vin and be sure they match the M-code.

Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:51 pm

obnoxiousblue wrote: My bus is a 77, though oddly, the M plate decodes to say its a 77. More confusing is that it was built 7/27/77
Mine is the bus phoneguy is talking about, it does have the dump tubes.
Mine is a GE engine as stated above, what does that mean though? Why would my 77 bus, have an engine coded to 78/79? Or is my bus really a closeted 78?

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seriously your asking how can a 40 year vw possibly have a engine
from a newer bus that happens to be the same size and will bolt right in

](*,) ](*,)

did it ever occur to you that at some point in the buses life
the engine took a shit
and the owner at the time decided to buy a used engine insted of rebuilding the original ........

Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:01 pm

vw76westy wrote: did it ever occur to you that at some point in the buses life
the engine took a shit
and the owner at the time decided to buy a used engine insted of rebuilding the original ........
Very plausible as at one time wrecking yards were overflowing with low mileage near new buses, but also consider the production date being 3 days before the summer holiday/model year changeover, maybe some of next years parts made it to the line ahead of the break?