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Acetone Jack Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006 Posts: 110
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject: Heater Boxes/ exchangers |
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So I recently discovered that my 74 Thing has an engine from a 73,
I'm curious as to how VW originally connected the heater boxes to the fan shroud.
The P.O. fabricated some awkwardly bent metal tubing but one of the two pipes has gone missing.
Are these parts still available? |
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howiesfamily Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2004 Posts: 858 Location: Panther City, Texas
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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The fan shroud for 73 is not made for use with heat exchangers. You will need to put a 74 shroud on it. It's just a regular beetle shroud with the two round outlets for hooking up hoses too. _________________ member of: Fort Worth Aircoolers Gang |
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kubelmann Samba Member

Joined: April 13, 2003 Posts: 3268
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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Are you talking about j tubes? I have a good supply of German heat exchangers including heavy duty flanged ones. |
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Acetone Jack Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006 Posts: 110
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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I'm talking about the part that connects the heater box itself to the fan shroud,
I have a 74 shroud with the bendy metal hoses coming off the shroud. But the part that connects the boxes to those bendy metal hoses has gone missing. |
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kubelmann Samba Member

Joined: April 13, 2003 Posts: 3268
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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What muffler do you have? Off of the shroud of a 74 comes paper tubes that hook to the heat exchangers unless you have a stock exhaust and then the muffler has these connectors that are part of the muffler. |
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[email protected] Samba Member

Joined: February 21, 2003 Posts: 878 Location: Clifton Park NY Saratoga County
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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youll also need to punch two holes under your back seat and insert a sleeve to accomodate heater tubes. you have to take the engine out to change the shroud, I did this on my 73 i had way back when, and I had great heat by using both the gas heater and heat exchangers |
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uberautowerks Samba Member

Joined: October 17, 2005 Posts: 1600 Location: Longmont Co
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Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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Mike... don't confuse Jack. He has a '74 with a '73 engine, so he has the proper holes in the body.
Jack, some pictures would help. Do you have a stock muffler of something in a tube header?
The stock muffler has a pair of "Clam shells" wrapped around the exhaust pipes from the head. The flex tubes go from the shroud to the clam shells, the clam shell connect to the heater boxes with wide hose clamps. A tube header does not use the clam shells and the flex tube goes directly to the heater box. _________________ --- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
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'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black) |
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Acetone Jack Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006 Posts: 110
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Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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I'm running a tri-mill "Wild Boar" exhaust
The part I'm misssing is the upper tube that allows fresh air (from the shroud) into the heater boxes.
The part that the bendy hoses (painted black in my pictures) connect to.
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Fun 181 Zu Geil!

Joined: October 20, 2006 Posts: 1003 Location: Connecticut
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Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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I have a 74 with the Tri-Mil exhaust. Right now I'm using heavy duty heater hoses (http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C13%2D3515) that connect from the shroud right to the heater boxes. No problems with melting or anything like that so far.
I met one Thing owner at a show who said that he bought flexible metal exhaust tubing and ran it from the heater boxes to the small metal connector that fits through the engine tin (this part: http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D113%2D255%2D165). He then connected stock heater hoses to complete the set up. He said it worked well.
So I went to the auto parts store and picked up the flexible metal tubing, but couldn't get it to bend at the correct angle. It's heavy duty metal tubing that doesn't have a lot of give. So, I'm still running the HD hoses right to the heater boxes. Like I said, it's been OK so far. If you end up using the HD rubber hose you'll need to cut off those cheap plastic clamps that are stapled onto it and use real metal hose clamps. Those plastic clamps are worthless.
Just curious... you say you have a '74 with a '73 engine yet the engine has a '74 shroud and heater boxes. Why do you say the engine is from a '73? |
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Acetone Jack Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2006 Posts: 110
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Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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I met the P.O. and he told me how he switched the shroud and modified some heater boxes. He had a 73 and 74, he switched the engines and what not.
Thanks for your help! |
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rt110099 Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Salem, Or
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:57 pm Post subject: Heater conversion |
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I just purchused a 73/typ 181 and the PO has taken out the gas heater and now there is no heat or defrost what do I need to do to convert it to draw heat off the engine?
I have a couple of bugs and was wondering if its just the same as them or do I need to try and find the gas heater and put it back in?
This is my first thing and could not pass it up for the price
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Semper_Dad Samba Member

Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3525 Location: Indiana
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: Heater conversion |
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rt110099 wrote: |
I just purchused a 73/typ 181 and the PO has taken out the gas heater and now there is no heat or defrost what do I need to do to convert it to draw heat off the engine?
I have a couple of bugs and was wondering if its just the same as them or do I need to try and find the gas heater and put it back in?
This is my first thing and could not pass it up for the price
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Well living in Oregon you will eventually want some heat.
There's some good threads on restoring, upgrading or modifying Thing heat/defrost systems. Citroen has a pretty good setup. There's always the option of replacing the gas heater.
Modifying a 73 to a 74 system will require a new fan shroud, heater boxes, and related ducting. Defroster duct is also different. Your frame doesn't have the guide tubes for the control cables. You will also have to punch two holes through the body.
Third option is to buy a propane fired heater (Mr. Heater like some bus people do.)
Personally, I'd restore the original gas heater. _________________ Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492 |
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citroen Samba Member

Joined: February 28, 2010 Posts: 1578 Location: louisville ky
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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 9:00 pm Post subject: heat |
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you can check my gallery to see my heat system it does work well i used it last winter i drove in 20 degree weather and was warm, if you dont have defroster tubes under the dash and you get the heat to the front i ran a 3/4 pvc tube the length of the dash with holes drilled about every inch facing the window with a tee in the middle i always had a clear window i used the right heat box for the window with a flap so i could change it to all heat and i used the left for the drivers heat on the floor you can use 1 1/2 od 2 inch pvc tubing on the floor from the back to the front inside the body there is no problem with melting they held up good |
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NOVA Airhead Samba Member

Joined: July 20, 2005 Posts: 5224 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:34 am Post subject: |
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With all the work you will need to do and the related cost you are probably better off going with the gas heater. _________________ Ghia Owner Emeritus |
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rt110099 Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Salem, Or
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Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the tips
The PO disassembled the heater and removed all of the wiring so I'm starting from scratch...
He gave me most of the parts when I picked it up and at that time I did not know something like that existed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
I will do some searching in here |
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