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Zack1978
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2006
Posts: 544
Location: NJ
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 Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 12:11 pm Post subject: Heater Boxes- Best quality? Best place to buy? |
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Hi everyone,
I need new heater boxes for my 72 coupe, and I would like to get good quality parts. Who currently makes the best quality parts? Who is the best retailer for the boxes?
I don't mind spending a few extra dollars for quality.
Thank you,
Zack
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1972 Coupe |
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c21darrel
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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CiderGuy
Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2013
Posts: 1351
Location: Bucks County, Pa
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| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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The Danish heater boxes come in two versions. One is lighter weight and the later is heavy weight. There is quite a difference between the two of them. I just purchased the heavy weight version.
They are not sold with levers or gaskets that's another $20 or so per side.
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Cars Currently Owned:
1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Project car for sale
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (Body off restoration)
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Zack1978
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2006
Posts: 544
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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| CiderGuy wrote: |
The Danish heater boxes come in two versions. One is lighter weight and the later is heavy weight. There is quite a difference between the two of them. I just purchased the heavy weight version.
They are not sold with levers or gaskets that's another $20 or so per side. |
Great, any suggestions on a vendor?
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1972 Coupe |
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Zack1978
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2006
Posts: 544
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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I think that I am leaning toward new boxes....
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1972 Coupe |
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wcfvw69 
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Zack1978 wrote: |
| I think that I am leaning toward new boxes.... |
Don't do it.. The new heater boxes are not even close to the original quality. The heater fin's inside are horribly lacking vs. originals thus, you're heat will suffer.
There's still TONS of good, used, rust free heater boxes out there at 1/4 of the cost of new.
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Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
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Zack1978
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2006
Posts: 544
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:19 am Post subject: |
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| wcfvw69 wrote: |
| Zack1978 wrote: |
| I think that I am leaning toward new boxes.... |
Don't do it.. The new heater boxes are not even close to the original quality. The heater fin's inside are horribly lacking vs. originals thus, you're heat will suffer.
There's still TONS of good, used, rust free heater boxes out there at 1/4 of the cost of new. |
Ahhhh to live in AZ and speak of rust free....one can only dream such thoughts while living in NJ!
I will look at the classified section.
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John Moxon
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13952
Location: Southampton U.K.
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:50 am Post subject: |
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| Zack1978 wrote: |
| wcfvw69 wrote: |
| Zack1978 wrote: |
| I think that I am leaning toward new boxes.... |
Don't do it.. The new heater boxes are not even close to the original quality. The heater fin's inside are horribly lacking vs. originals thus, you're heat will suffer.
There's still TONS of good, used, rust free heater boxes out there at 1/4 of the cost of new. |
Ahhhh to live in AZ and speak of rust free....one can only dream such thoughts while living in NJ!
I will look at the classified section. |
Yep you just have to compare the weight of new vs. original to know what you're getting. Originals are about 3 times the weight of new...built like battleships.
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jpjohns
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Joined: May 03, 2014
Posts: 882
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:39 am Post subject: |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
| Yep you just have to compare the weight of new vs. original to know what you're getting. Originals are about 3 times the weight of new...built like battleships. |
That's funny because mine are pretty damn heavy! It's too bad they pour rust out of every hole 
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"Scrapyards are for quitters" - Beetlenut (a Samba member) |
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sputnick60
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Joined: July 22, 2007
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Location: In Molinya Orbit
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CiderGuy
Samba Member
Joined: December 23, 2013
Posts: 1351
Location: Bucks County, Pa
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:50 am Post subject: |
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| jpjohns wrote: |
| John Moxon wrote: |
| Yep you just have to compare the weight of new vs. original to know what you're getting. Originals are about 3 times the weight of new...built like battleships. |
That's funny because mine are pretty damn heavy! It's too bad they pour rust out of every hole |
I wonder how many actually have compared the new heavy duty danish model with a 45 year old heater box ? Saying something doesn't always make it so.... I happen to have both in my possession.
I went out to the garage and just did it this morning, and the new model is much heavier and frankly seems better made. That's also with the extra weight of the rust ......
_________________
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Cars Currently Owned:
1970 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe - Project car for sale
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (Body off restoration)
Timing is everything |
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Zack1978
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2006
Posts: 544
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:59 am Post subject: |
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My car is only a fair weather driver, does that make a difference in terms of going with og parts or Dansk?
I also don't want J pipes.
Thanks,
Zack
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swavananda
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Joined: February 14, 2009
Posts: 889
Location: Can o' Scruz
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Guess which one is OG. !
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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| swavananda wrote: |
Guess which one is OG. !
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The ole "a picture is worth a thousands words"..
It's a sad commentary in that the original VW, used 40+ year old parts are STILL so much better than the crap sold today.
I bought a brand new Bosch Generator for my bug. The darn gen light kept coming on. I finally solved the problem by using the original brush springs and some good used, original brushes. The brush springs on the "new" Bosch generator were cheap junk compared to the original brush springs on the old generator. Pretty sad..
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Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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c21darrel
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Joined: January 22, 2009
Posts: 8211
Location: San Dimas
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Zack1978
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2006
Posts: 544
Location: NJ
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| c21darrel wrote: |
| Yes, for the price of new... one can buy a used set and have it jet/ceramic coated. Thats just smart engineering. |
True, but the biggest issue is actually finding good boxes. I would be at the mercy of the seller, who is hopefully honest. It seems like it would be hard to tell from pictures, right?
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Zack1978 wrote: |
| c21darrel wrote: |
| Yes, for the price of new... one can buy a used set and have it jet/ceramic coated. Thats just smart engineering. |
True, but the biggest issue is actually finding good boxes. I would be at the mercy of the seller, who is hopefully honest. It seems like it would be hard to tell from pictures, right? |
Not at all.. Look in the classifieds here. If a seller only has one picture of a greasy heater box, move onto the next seller. As you know, look for these boxes in the dry SW part of the country. They are less likely to have rust. Usually the sellers will be honest in their description of the parts. Ask for more pics if needed. Check the sellers feedback too. I bought my last pair here in Phoenix a few years ago. I think I paid $10 bucks each for them. They were used dent/rust free, original VW heater boxes. A little degreaser, some sand paper and in a couple of hours, they looked new with a shinny coat of high temp gray paint on them. Believe it or not, it get's chilly here in Phx in the winters. In the 30's in the morning and the VW with these heater boxes on it, they will cook me in less than 5 minutes. I have to turn the heater controls almost fully closed.
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Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc
Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.
**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours** |
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