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gertiebob
Samba Member
Joined: February 23, 2015
Posts: 163
Location: Seattle
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 Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2021 11:05 am Post subject: Front Heater Box Option |
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Here is a question for a real Vanagon minutia expert. Can you tell from the outside whether a front, under the dash, heater box is an older one (side vents blow cold always) or a newer one (side vents blow hot when heat is on)?
By "outside" I mean outside of the heater box not outside of the van!
I have an older one in my '86 Syncro that blows cold from those side vents and am looking at another one. I had the newer one in my '90 Westy and sure liked the warm air at the sides. Learned along the way somewhere that there was a change at some point.
Anybody happen to know this important factoid?
Thanks! |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50336
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| Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2021 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Front Heater Box Option |
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| The change is in the location and maybe the shape of the outlets, so yes you can tell. |
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revolution337
Samba Member
Joined: May 23, 2009
Posts: 372
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2021 11:39 am Post subject: Re: Front Heater Box Option |
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If you drop the glovebox down, you should be able to see the sides of the heater box assembly. You should see a large round hole and a smaller oval shaped hole. One of them will be open (and have a hose attached to it leading to the side dash vents) and one will be "closed off" i.e. does not allow flow through it.
If you have the oval ports open and leading to the side dash vents, then that is the later style box which allows heated air to the side vents.
If the oval ports are closed off and the circular holes are open, then that is the earlier style, and the side vents only will be getting ambient temp air.
Disregard the giant body wash bottle in this photo. But the heater box shown here is the later style box (heated side vents). You can see the circular hole is capped off, while the oval hole is open.
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gertiebob
Samba Member
Joined: February 23, 2015
Posts: 163
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2021 9:07 pm Post subject: Re: Front Heater Box Option |
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| revolution337 wrote: |
Disregard the giant body wash bottle in this photo. But the heater box shown here is the later style box (heated side vents). You can see the circular hole is capped off, while the oval hole is open.
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Now, how can I “disregard” that giant red bottle?!
Thanks for exactly the info I was looking for.
This brings up another question, though. Can one plug the “early” round hole and open the oval one on an “older” box to get that nice warm air?
I just rebuilt my older style one but did not think about all this at the time and don’t remember at all the internals.
Thanks revolution337. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50336
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| Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2021 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Front Heater Box Option |
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| gertiebob wrote: |
| revolution337 wrote: |
Disregard the giant body wash bottle in this photo. But the heater box shown here is the later style box (heated side vents). You can see the circular hole is capped off, while the oval hole is open.
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Now, how can I “disregard” that giant red bottle?!
Thanks for exactly the info I was looking for.
This brings up another question, though. Can one plug the “early” round hole and open the oval one on an “older” box to get that nice warm air?
I just rebuilt my older style one but did not think about all this at the time and don’t remember at all the internals.
Thanks revolution337. |
Sure you can plug them. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32574
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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gertiebob
Samba Member
Joined: February 23, 2015
Posts: 163
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2021 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Front Heater Box Option |
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| djkeev wrote: |
You can modify either style quite simply to operate either way.
I modified my 86 to blow warm air out the side dash vents. ... |
Well, that was quite a project and you had a following! I did find the hole reference within. Of course, now, you have me thinking I should remove my perfectly re-finished dash and tear everything apart and do something like what you did........or just leave cold air at my side vents with dusty logging road and cold winter air invading.
I have to say that I like Vanistan's flap and flapper kit. Also had previously thought of adding a dust filter to the air intake - like all modern cars have. Just find some easily cut-able filter media???
Thanks Dave for steering me toward another project! My head hurts already. Nobody has ever accused me of having a stock - or remotely close to stock - van. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32574
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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