Fresh Air Box Vibration Isolator Mounts (pics)

[66foot]

For anyone working on a fresh air box for the 1971/1972 Super Beetle and the 1971-1973 Type 3, one of the common repair problems that many of you have mentioned is the need for a good replacement for the square vibration isolator mounts. Some of you guys have come up with some good ideas for fixing the problem. I will add the following to the list.

Karman Rubber Company has a square dampner that works fairly well. While they advertise several square dampners, they currently only stock the S420-50 Square Mount in 50 Durometer Natural Rubber (S420-AA51). The minimum order is 8 pieces @ $6.95/each, 25 pieces @ $4.50/each, 50 pieces @ $3.25/each.

Differences:

The replacement is a solid rubber dampner. The form factor matches the VW original size fairly close.

The replacement threaded studs are ANSI 1/4-20.

The original threaded studs are metric M6X1.

That equates to the replacement studs being about 1mm larger in diameter and 5 less threads per inch. Original washers will fit, but you will need some new nuts.

The price is fairly reasonable when you purchase 50 pieces- with shipping it works out to approximately $3.50 each. I picked up 25 and the price worked out to $4.96.

See the attached photos.

Pat (66foot)

[jamesdagg]

Good find!! Thanks for sharing. I may be picking up another box at a local wrecker. That will be 3 I have for one car.

jim
_________________
'72 FI Westy
'71 Super rear inside defrost vents no longer available

[66foot]

Jamesdagg -

Ditto. My wife keeps asking me how many of these things do I need.

Some of the recent sales on Ebay are fetching $100.00 plus!

A couple of weeks ago $150, yesterday $96 (with hardware), last week a lucky soul got one for $33. There is one currently posted there for $50, but you have to send a check or money order.

Pat (66foot)

[jamesdagg]

The wrecker here wants $100 for one as is so I'm waiting for him to come down to $60 or so.

They can't be gotten new and they can be reto fit to earlier std. Beetles.

jim
_________________
'72 FI Westy
'71 Super rear inside defrost vents no longer available

[Baja Champ SE]

66foot,

Since you seem to be the expert on the fresh air box (used your original video to take mine apart), is there a huge problem if I were to run the fan box with the broken rubber mounts? I'm about to put it back in my car, and would rather not have to take it out again.

Kelle
_________________
-1972 Baja Champion SE Super Beetle "Frank the Freak"

SOLD
-1969 Deluxe Bus "Warhaul" aka "Project Whitestock"

Air Speed VW Club of So Cal
Member Since July 2007

[Gary]

Great timing on this as I need to install the box in my Super (it was missing). You could make money if you acquired the materials and sold kits here on the Samba -- PLUS -- you'd be doing everyone a favor.

Your pictures are great as well. Pics are always important.
_________________
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

[66foot]

MGBaja_Smurf -

I would not suggest replacing your fan with broken mounts. The square mounts bolt into the "top" of the fresh air box. Therefore, with broken mounts your fan could fall into the box, held up by only the wires and the sides and bottom of the box. Your side vent flaps could also become inoperable.

If you need some replacement mounts just let me know.

Pat (66foot)

[66foot]

Icy -

Thanks. I sent you a pm.

Pat (66foot)

[66foot]

JamesDagg -

Here is another Fresh Air Box on Ebay, but they want $50.00, they don't take Paypal, and they don't give any indication of shipping costs.

Pat (66foot)

[Raggamuffin]

Wow! Was pretty certain I got a good deal on on this weekend at pull-a-part, then I read this post. $8.00...SCORE!

[realbugfanatic]

You can also find very similar mounts from industrial suppliers, although they're solid. Here's a round one from msc-direct.com part number 63661524 or try page 1350 on mcmaster.com for a variety of inch sizes. Remember that 6mm = roughly 0.240" or in reverse 1/4" = 6.35mm so you're only talking 0.010" difference, not 1mm - they will be very close.

[66foot]

VW12Step -

I don't think I have ever seen a Fresh Air Box for $8.00.

As long as it has a fan inside, that isn't toast, then I agree.....SCORE!

Pat (66foot)

[Baja Champ SE]

66foot

you should have a PM waiting
_________________
-1972 Baja Champion SE Super Beetle "Frank the Freak"

SOLD
-1969 Deluxe Bus "Warhaul" aka "Project Whitestock"

Air Speed VW Club of So Cal
Member Since July 2007

[66foot]

Realbugfanatic -

I have some of the round dampeners also, but I found that these square ones fit the alignment ridges very well.

Pat (66foot)

[realbugfanatic]

Cool, then they're worth the price!

[Baja Don]

The motor in my fresh air box is shot. Somebody (not me) decided to put the low and high wires together at the same time, and it smoked the motor! Literally, smoke came out of it!
Do you know of a replacement motor out of some other type car that would fit the fan blade and 4 mounting screw holes?
Would you recommend a motor that I could adapt?
Thanks

[VeedubPastor]

[td2dv]

Vibration Isolator, 40 Lb Max, M6 x 1
GRAINGER APPROVED
Price
$2.75 / each

http://www.grainger.com/product/GRAINGER-APPROVED-...?$smthumb$
===========

[Cali_Army_Guy]

Damn $100 and up?

I gave away my working fresh air box motor and threw away the rest of it

[Rach]

Just finished cleaning my fresh air box (HUGE thanks to Pat/66foot for the amazingly thorough and helpful tutorial on vimeo!! I watched and rewatched and was able to do my first project for my bug much appreciated!)

for the mounts we found these online and they worked great had to trim off about 1/2" off each thread with a dremmel for them to fit but all's well now

got all 4 for just under $17 shipped. Might be able to find these exact ones in the states.
http://www.banggood.com/4pcs-M6x20x10mm-Rubber-Sho...66950.html

Hope that helps! I about had a meltdown looking for these... I bought some others at Grainger, but didn't read correctly and they were way too big.