Westfalia A/C vents & removing plenum

[Typhon2222]

Blah. I just took a closer look. Am I going to have to remove the side "spice rack" before I can access some bolts necessary to remove the plenum? That looks like a serious undertaking. (<----total mechanical idiot)
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Basil — '88 Dove Blue Westy.

[campism]

It's not that big a deal. Maybe three bolts at the front and two where it bolts to the closet, then lay it on the kitchen cabinet while you drop the plenum. Then reinstall the spice rack/curtain tray. All this is from memory, since I did mine a couple of years ago. Look closer; you may not have to do all that.

[EvilDNA]

I have the Multivan, i.e. no kitchen, stove, etc. and so I'm not sure what details would be involved. On my setup, I just have to pull the perimeter screws w/ the plastic caps and the 5 screws running down through the bed. Plenum is then off.

As for 134a, by now you've probably read that you shouldn't have to be recharging your system that often. I'm sure you've been scolded about the environment too. Nonetheless, get down with the RedTek and you'll create a Win Win Win. Less Cost, Less Strain, Less AlGore Hypocrisy (if that is your bag, baby).

I don't give a rat's left fig about the 134a debate beyond the fact that the more experienced have already spoken. Higher pressure, smaller molecular composition, lower performance add up to bad mojo on these vans.

I do find it funny that so many tow the 134a line chapter and verse, all while the crap is being phased out. I assume they'll tow the new line, whatever standard that may be once legislated down from on high. Between a cow's fart and R12 . . . I'd have preferred keeping the latter.

I do favor the DuPont Patent Expiration Coincidence Theory, but I'm always a sucker for a good conspiracy.
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1990 4 Speed Orly Blue Multivan

[Typhon2222]

Last night was my initiation into disassembling Westy components! I took the plunge and decided to remove the A/C plenum enclosure.

Took me hours. I'm a newb, so even figuring out simple things such as how best to pop off the screw cap covers took a while. And getting the spice rack down was a major process of discovery for me. I used the Bentley, which made it easier. But still....

The Bentley said that removing the spice rack would require first removing the support slat which runs across the leading edge of the back ceiling, spanning the width of the car. Four bolts there. Then ten screws for the spice rack alone, some in hard-to-reach places. I thought I'd be able, once yanked out, to lay the spice rack on the top of the stove cabinet. But the electrical cables for the light fixture were far too short to allow that, and I didn't know how to disengage the cables, so I had to prop the spice rack up on two very rickety stilt-like columns of tin cans which I pulled out of the manhole cupboards and stacked with one hand while balancing the spice rack in the other. And then 25 screws for the plenum itself.

It was fun, but if I ever do this again, I'll invest in some electric screwdriver. My wrists are feeling the workout this morning.

The good news: hurricane gales indeed! Sweet gods, does that thing BLOW. Even with the A/C fan turned to just 2, I was getting substantially more air in the front than I used to get with plenum and fan cranked up to 3. Turn the fan up to 3 now, and it's like lounging in a wind tunnel. Sitting in the driver's seat, I get way more air movement from the A/C than I do from the front air vents.

I like the extra headroom too.

Also, I've had my curiosity satisfied about what those metal clips projecting forward from the face of the A/C cabinet do. They guide the cable for the rear speakers. (See pic below.)

The bad news: the now-revealed ceiling is severely blackened. Campism, I don't know how your ceiling looks so pristine. Mine is covered with ash-black residue from the enclosure (see pic), and I can't seem to scrub it off. Rubbing alcohol, at least, isn't working. Perhaps I should try some goof-off?

If that doesn't work, I guess I'll explore the wonderful world of contact paper, and just cover the whole ceiling.

And, per Campism's suggestion, some gray modelling clay or putty to fill in the receiving slot in the cabinet face.

All in all, I'm super-glad I took that thing off. The increased air flow is truly stupendous. And the wife is going to like the headroom.

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Basil — '88 Dove Blue Westy.

[VisPacem]

Hi

I hate to appear ignorant , but what do you mean by the "plenum" ? Seems to come from the Latin giving us the word plenty or full, full of what besides hot air that is supposed to be cold
Is that "plenum" only on Westies or any A/C equipped Vanagon ?
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LG aka VisPacemPB, *The* party Pooper

No Regrets (Nothing to do with Vanagons)

[Typhon2222]

[VisPacem]

Thank you very much learned and esteemed professor

I guess the natives are getting restless in the suburbs, and we'll switch to Ave Magister instead of just howdy pilgrim.

Anyway , yes indeed I want peace so I para bellum

Anyway to return to the "plenum" ego sum confusius maximus, not Confucius mind you when you say:

>> the large duct assembly that extends forward from the A/C cabinet to the leading edge of the rear ceiling, intended — I suppose — to help the air reach further forward. <<<


Perhaps a charitable soul will post a picture of this (to me) mysterious "plenum"

All I see on the pictures already posted is a box, an enclosure, a container of some sort, is that the famous plenum or is that plenum inside the good old box ?

If it's the box why call it a plenum ?

porca miseria

accidente

quelle m...e

gross s......e
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LG aka VisPacemPB, *The* party Pooper

No Regrets (Nothing to do with Vanagons)

[kamzcab86]

[EvilDNA]

I used the word plenum basically from HVAC vernacular. I could be mis-applying that word but oh well.

I have to chuckle about the plenum/duct removal by hand. When I was taking mine down for the A/C rehab my dad and I marveled at how 20 years ago, all poor souls were doing it all by hand. I love my Bosh screw gun.

Now I'm tempted to take that blasted thing back down. The dark discolored mess is the cremated remains of that foam filter that was once wrapped around the evaporator. May she rest in peace.

A complete A/C rehab will have you blowing out the disintegrated foam remains from the evaporator. TK's idea about putting a foam filter in the back panel is a good one for keeping a newly cleaned evap coil clean.

As TK says, Ace is the Place.
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1990 4 Speed Orly Blue Multivan

[campism]

Plenum applies to this and to other automotive applications. V8 intake manifolds, for example, sometimes have a large open space under the carb that opens into individual runners to the heads and that is also a plenum.

I removed all the fasteners in my Westy interior removal by hand and I'm still not over that.

[Typhon2222]

[campism]

THAT'S the one I knew I'd seen but could not find. I searched every A/C thread and search term I thought would work. Thanks!

Man, I even posted in it. Jeez, my mind is going.

[Typhon2222]

[Typhon2222]

So the contact paper is up! It covers up the obnoxious black stains and yawning screw holes well. Here are the before and after pics.

Originally I had hoped to find some matte gray contact paper. But after trips to Home Depot, Orchard Supply Hardware, and Ace, the best I could find was this metallic "stainless steel" color. It's definitely reflective, and it bothered me at first. But it's grown on me. I kind of like being able to see the A/C cabinet and rest of the car's interior mirror-imaged on the ceiling. And like a mirrored wall in a cramped restaurant, it seems to open up the space, making it feel more spacious.

I also bought some putty to fill in the slot running across the face of the A/C cabinet. But it's not gray enough, so I'll have to find something else.
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Basil — '88 Dove Blue Westy.

[EvilDNA]

Typhoon - You sir are a man on a mission. I'm being swayed to pull mine back off without trying the whole 12v fan option.

I do believe I'll try to fashion some sort of custom face plate bevel thingy to cover the vent and plenum grooves and speaker wire. You can also just run the wire from behind and under the blower vent.

Very Cool . . . pun intended.
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1990 4 Speed Orly Blue Multivan

[Typhon2222]

[Typhon2222]

[kamzcab86]

[EvilDNA]

So I dropped my Plenum/Duct and took the van out for a good drive. Safe to say . . . its staying off. Man that is some serious airflow. Now, I'll just have to come up with a faceplate that can cover/fit in the groove and also take a vent register or something to protect kiddie fingers. It's a must do after a good A/C rehab for sure.
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1990 4 Speed Orly Blue Multivan

[Typhon2222]