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Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:47 pm

Just laughing, reading this thread!
I agree with the general sentiment that this job is one of the fiddlyest there is!
I used MTB inner tube, but it's really too thin. I spent ages sourcing some silicone tubing, but the stuff they sent was really too thick. Wouldn't roll back on itself!
I'm going to wait until it breaks again before I contemplate taking it apart again!

Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:13 am

mcdonaldneal wrote: Just laughing, reading this thread!
I agree with the general sentiment that this job is one of the fiddlyest there is!
I used MTB inner tube, but it's really too thin. I spent ages sourcing some silicone tubing, but the stuff they sent was really too thick. Wouldn't roll back on itself!
I'm going to wait until it breaks again before I contemplate taking it apart again!

Maybe use heat or hot water? Its how a lot of fittings get placed in hoses.

Mon Feb 23, 2015 10:37 am

mcdonaldneal wrote: Just laughing, reading this thread!

I second that, although the joke is on the installer (moi!). I had my fresh/warm air diffusers in my hand yesterday for a trial fit and gave up when my hands and wrists were covered in small cuts and bruises. What's worse is that I don't have the connecting metal parts - the metal part that fits onto the fresh air vent boxes. Now where the heck do I find those? I can't find them in anyone's parts list.

Sat May 06, 2017 8:08 pm

Sorry to strum up an old thread. I am going to attempt shrink tubing instead of inner tube. I am certain it will be an easy install, and last much longer than rubber.

Sun May 07, 2017 12:05 am

xzener wrote: Sorry to strum up an old thread. I am going to attempt shrink tubing instead of inner tube. I am certain it will be an easy install, and last much longer than rubber.

Interesting, and I'm struggling to see how that would work. Wouldn't the shrink tube just narrow down in the middle?
I did this again recently. It's easier the less you have in the way, so remove what you can. I preloaded the plastic diverter with the MTB tube and got my small handed wife to peel the rubber back...
Went pretty easily this time :? .

Sun May 07, 2017 9:28 am

I will post some pics this week when the tubing arrives... Have some on order. Yours turned out nice. My wire harness has been pulled out, so plenty of room to struggle with it. :wink:

Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:32 am

Only used a hair drier for the shrink tubing... But so far so good.

Fri Jun 30, 2017 7:00 am

I like the shrink tube idea. I have a silly question about the other end of the tube. My 74 coupe has no connector between the floor channel and the underside of the dash. Am I correct that the transfer of hot air is to flow from the floor hole behind the carpet to the dash?

If that is true, then to the earlier question about efficiency, perhaps rigging up a tube there would ensure more hot air makes it up there without losses.

Fri Jun 30, 2017 8:55 am

Yes, heat comes from below, fresh air from the front. Not sure about a 74, but my 68's heat comes up through the dash from a tube attached to the heat channel.

Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:20 am

Later cars are the same configuration except the tube is cardboard IIRC.

Fri Jun 30, 2017 12:53 pm

Which made them impossible to replace in my 70 beetle. Mr Ghia got it right with the solid tube IMO.

Fri Jun 30, 2017 1:21 pm

xzener wrote: ... Mr Ghia got it right with the solid tube IMO.

Sounds more like Herr Karmann to me. :wink: :wink:

Sun Jul 09, 2017 1:12 am

Anyone know a source for the rubber flaps? I'm currently striping those mix box and preper them for powder coating and I've found that those flaps are turn

Sun Jul 09, 2017 4:50 am

I would be surprised if you could get these anywhere - 3D printing would be your best best (the rubber is fairly hard so plastic should be ok).

Sun Jul 09, 2017 10:31 am

Mellow Yellow 74 wrote: I would be surprised if you could get these anywhere - 3D printing would be your best best (the rubber is fairly hard so plastic should be ok).

Good point. Some parts can be made from things you can buy elsewhere, for example, in a stationery store. I made a green indicator piece to fit in my Ghia's speedo from a plastic pencil sharpener. $2 fix.

Crafts stores have all sorts of materials that can be used.

Sun Oct 05, 2025 11:54 am

Thanks for the tip! With 2mm thick hoses, you can get the job done in a few minutes. Mine are red. If anyone needs a piece, feel free to let me know.

Mon Oct 06, 2025 2:22 pm

I found some thick 1" black electrical take at Lowes. (thicker than regular electrical tape and very high adhesive. It worked perfect to wrap the joints after putting them back in place. The worst thing to me was getting the cable secured.