Bus with no factory heat

[1994Brazillian]

Hey everyone

I purchased a Brazilian bus that came with no factory heat. I really want an option that could take some of the chill off and defrost the windows. I live in Ga so climate is relatively warm and in extreme cold I would just take the car. Does anyone make a unit that runs off of propane etc that would fit the bill and keep off the chill?

[kreemoweet]

Search the Bay forum with "propane heater" or "diesel heater" (title only box checked), and ye shall find.
Ditto for the Vanagon forum.
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[metahacker]

a PROPEX is what you seek

many will tell you to use a chinese diesel heater

if you're cheap, the latter can't be beat
if you already have propane on-board for a stove, the former is the logical choice (want to add a diesel tank?)

the propex is, in theory, more trustworthy ... very common on UK bus builds
the CDH is obscenely price effective, $100+ is common

[KTPhil]

Does it lack any and all heater components? Or maybe just missing the heat exchangers?

[1994Brazillian]

[1994Brazillian]

Has anyone had any experience routing the heat from a propex to the dash in a transporter?

[aeromech]

I’ve installed a propex before into a 1968 bus. It’s purpose was to heat the cabin but it seems to me that with some effort it wouldn’t be too hard to install some ducts and a booster fan to move heat up front. Not a cheap endeavor though plus the propane causes the windows to fog which is the opposite of what you want.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=668162&highlight=propex
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[Wildthings]

It would be nice to know what engine you have. We can assume a 1600 Type 1 engine, but we know very little about your actual bus.

[CanStan]

I will vote for the diesel heater. A propane heater would be nice if you already have it plumbed in, but at about 10% of the cost, it’s hard to beat the Chinese Diesel Heater.
I’ve run them in 2 Busses and an Eriba Puck trailer, and I don’t have any regrets.
I’m currently figuring out the best way to route the heater through the main heater tube up to the dash vents on a new Bus. I think it’s the best heat for the least money you can spend.
Right now, I can buy a CDH on Amazon for about $110 CAD ($80 USD) for a complete kit, including all hose clamps and fittings. A Propex would run me about $1500 USD.I guess it depends on your budget. If my pockets were deep, I’d go Propex. But to me, the extra money is better spent on other Bus projects.

[NASkeet]

You might wish to join the British based, Brazilian Bay Forum; there being lots of these vehicles in the United Kingdom, including motor-caravan conversions.

https://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com

https://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/f4-aircooled

VW Beetles (UK) Ltd / Danbury Motorcaravans have experience of retro-fitting the Propex gas-fired (i.e. LPG, propane or butane) or Webasto heating systems to these 1997 onward vehicles, imported new from Brazil, with the VW 1600 Type 1 style air-cooled engine, catalytic converter & Bosch Digifant electronic fuel-injection [as factory-fitted to late-model, Mexican VW Type 1 Beetles], which was commonly re-chipped to liberate more torque & power from the British high-octane petrol (i.e. gasoline in USA parlance!?!).

https://www.danburycampervans.co.uk

https://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/search?mode=...lts=topics

ttps://brazilianvwbay.forumotion.com/search?mode=searchbox&search_keywords=Webasto&show_results=topics

https://www.justkampers.com/vw-brazilian-bay-windo...stems.html

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/eu/volkswagen/type-2-bay/heating-ventilation.html

https://blog.heritagepartscentre.com/blog/2014/12/30/brazilian-kombi-buyers-guide/

https://www.kustomrevival.com/customers-rides/volkswagen-brazilian-bay-campers/

https://t2bay.blogspot.com/2018/10/brazilian-uga-engine-differences.html
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[1994Brazillian]

[1994Brazillian]

Does anyone have a brand of CDH they recommend? also Where would you put the diesel fuel tank?

[aeromech]

[CanStan]

I don’t like the plastic fuel tank that comes with the heater. I bought a lawn mower tank and mounted it in the engine bay, on the left battery tray. It makes for easy filling, and no risk of spilling diesel inside the Bus.

There’s a really good CDH thread in the Vanagon forum, and on YouTube, there’s an Australian guy with 30+ videos diving deep into everything you ever wanted (or didn’t want) to know about them.

[ToolBox]