Eberspacher Gas Heater 101(tech session)

notchboy · Last edited by notchboy on Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:52 am; edited 2 times in total

Yesterday I recieved a very special package. It contained a compleet East-West configuration Eberspacher BN2 Gasoline Heater. This set up was made for two years only before being phased out. Its an important piece of the history of the BN2 as it was the first of its type and was deemed important enough for VW to change the sheet metal stamps in order to accomodate it. I belive that due to its elaborate design and cumbersome install, it was totaly replaced by the (compared to this) North-South design.

If you look at 65 and up front nose panels you will notice the oval stamps found on eithor side of the spare tire well. These stams were made to assist the instalation of this type of heater. VW also made changes to the cabin wall to help install the Noth-South type as well. Prior to the cabin walls flat surface, there were ridges in the panels. I borrowed some of Berts 68 fasty photos to help illustrate.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Up until now Ive only seen pictures of this rare beast. I was fortunate to work out a deal with Gary LaVere of LaVere's VW Restoration in Concord Ca. He had Denny Vargas pull this unit from a 65 notcback and ship it out to me. Thanks again guys for taking the time and ensuring I got all the bits. Beer is on me!

Just by looking at the blow out view you can see that it has alot of little parts. Most of which are type 3 specific. Even the on/off switch is for a type 3. It has a stand off that compensates for the angle of the dash. Ask tomnotch how hard those are to find Wink

The parts that realy make this set up stand out from the other units is the need for long tubes to streatch under the front fenders. This cumbersome install was surly its downfall.

If you look close at the above photo you will notice that the front portion of the tube is installed at a shape angle different from the oval stamp angle I described above. Thats because this 64 or early 65 dosnt have the oval stamps and was cut as best the tech thought at the time.

Here are the tubes off the car. They measure about 5.5 to 6 ft!

Last shots are of the oval tube housing, the complicated switch (thats not even the the realy complicated one!) and a real red gas cap next to on of Bezelworks fine reproductions.

Now go impress you friends down at the pub Wink

_________________

ibjack · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:16 am Post subject:

I loathe you Mr.Notchboy!!!!! Mad

_________________
'68 Lotus White T34 automatic sunroof
'64 Manila Yellow T34
'65 Sea Blue Square Panel
the1500club.com
Shop Lacky at the T3/34 Factory, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094313902074

JSMskater · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 12:57 am Post subject:

watch-- your fancy pants heater has just laid VOODOO on your engine. Laughing

nice score-- I actually think I like the long hose/tube idea better than the sketchy hacking of the front firewall/trunk area. I still have to patch the gaping hole under my dash where the A/C crap used to go Rolling Eyes

_________________
71 Squareback-FI -- 73 Bay (subaru powered)
TOOB Member #3
I make D-jet FI connectors

raygreenwood · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:46 am Post subject:

You are gonna love it. Gasoline heat is one of the really nice things about driving my 412. It has the BA4. Sweet! Ray

DucMike · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:23 pm Post subject:

Dammit! I was dreaming of that heater set-up back when Denny showed me pix of the car. IIRC, they weren't parting the heater off the car at that point. Had I known...

Probably would have even mix-n-matched the set-up with the brand-new-in-crate BN gas heater set-up I have. I've always prefered the East/West layout over the North/South.

Oh well; ces't la vie. Confused

_________________
Mike S.
'66 Variant Sunroof TIII4ME
'76 Rabbit
'91 Passat Variant (Big 'back)
'96 GTI VR6
'03 20th AE GTI OEM+ 20th
Niello Ranch Run

notchboy · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject:

Yeah I guess I asked at the right time. Ill be restoring it back 100% to how it came.
_________________

Sumguy · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject:

Very cool heater. Gary is across town from me , wish i would of known i could of maybe helped ya.

Where did they mount the spare tire being the heater was in the tire well ?
On top of the gas tank with a speical mount or ?

notchboy · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject:

The tire goes in the same place. Think of the heater mounting in the space above the horn.

On a T34

In a T3

_________________

Sumguy · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject:

Ah....that makes sense. Looks like a tight fit , must be a pain to work on it while it is in the car. Good use of that space though and you still have the whole trunk to use.

notchboy · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:16 pm Post subject:

t3kg · Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:25 pm Post subject:

I wonder if this heater is why the horns were moved outside behind the bumper on Type 34s in 1964 or 65? The horns on my '62 would be in exactly the wrong place.
_________________
5/62 343
I WAS THERE! The 2017 Type 3 Rally / September 29–October 1 / Cayucos, CA
2014: The 2014 Type 3 Rally / October 3–5 / Cayucos, CA
2011: 50 Years of the VW Type 3 / September 29–October 1 / California Central Coast

notchboy · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:02 am Post subject:

tomnotch · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject:

Naw. I think people just didn't like building a camp fire on top of the gas tank........

Laughing

notchboy · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:04 am Post subject:

Ive got it all pulled apart and inspeted. One of the leadind causes of people not getting these things to run is the rubber diaphram gaskets in the fuel pump and he meetering diaphram. They get hard of the years from the gas and or age wearing on them. I however was seriously lucky. The pump and the meeter are still plyable! And the glow plug works. I would of bet I could of added gas and power and this sucker would of powered up without a problem.

I did however tear it down to get it restored. The crackle finish is a HomeDepot shelf item and matches perfect. Cleaned and painted. Now onto reasembly and firing it up.

_________________

Adriel Rowley · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:16 am Post subject:

It is interesting to note that the last design does not have a stamping in the wheel well area. Mounting it in the nose would most likely be too cramped, though I do not have dimensions. It does seem that there is provision for front to back mounting in the trunk area.
_________________
Please consider I am Autistic, so I process information differently and still working on social skills. Thanks.

Dad's 1964 Beetle purchased September 1968.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9252810#9252810

1971 Sunroof Squareback with Fuel Injection
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=219811&highlight=squareback+rejuvenation

notchboy · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

Yes there should be flat spots in the metal for a N-S config heater in later T3s. And for sure this design was long gone by the time the fat chick made her way into the room Wink

_________________

Adriel Rowley · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

Typ311Dave · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

Adriel Rowley · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:30 pm Post subject:

notchboy · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:36 am Post subject:


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Eberspacher Gas Heater 101(tech session)
Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next

	Forum Index -> Type 3	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next
Page 1 of 6