| Author |
Message |
busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51153
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
 Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject: Winter's coming, time for some heat, BN-2 install |
 |
|
I try not to drive my 71 in the winter, but there are some days when the roads are salt free and the sun is out that just scream for a drive, but it's cold, damn cold sometimes. Now our 71 is an almost rust free OG paint survivor that I just don't have the cajones to start cutting big obvious holes in, besides I like the clean, uncluttered look of the engine compartment and a BN-4 would just mess up that mojo.
So what's a chilly guy to do? I had a bonus BN-2 kicking around the shop so I started to try jamming it into places to see if it would fit. Under the cab floor? No. Inline in the heat duct? maybe, but the splashing can't be good for it, it rains a little here. How about under the back seat? Yeah!
I had to trim approx 1/2" off of the end of each mounting ear and hole saw 2 small holes under the back seat but it went in without a big fight. Here's the holes and the exhaust and combustion intake tube on the bottom of the bus, I used red silicone to make sure ther wasn't going to be any exhaust or water leaks.
I had to manufacture a custom exhaust, most of it was from the FLAPS and I tried my hand at duplicating the trademark tip treatment that most VW gas heaters have, not bad eh?
The metering pump is mounted on the road side of the sloping firewall just ahead of the LH accordian tube, I Teed the line into the line off the tank just like a BN-4 installation does and ran the output line through a grommet to the heater, same deal with the power wire in a separate grommet.
For the outlet I trimmed down a late beetle outlet and it looks like it was made for the job, my bus is a bench upfront but if it was a walkthrough the heat would easily blow right up to the cab and the windshield.
While playing around with it I did find it a bit loud, adding the macaroni shaped beetle duct to the inlet really cut down on the noise, it just draws air from under the seat, there's enough gaps between the backrest and the kick panel.
So it's in and tested, damn I want to go for a drive but don't want to hack my dash with another switch, and the fuse box tapping?, OY!, so I used my rear defogger switch, WTF it never worked anyways, perfect!
So it's in and it runs, yeah!, but now my old kick panel doesn't fit, bummer, hafta make another one.
Almost looks like it came with it and it's easily reversible, especially since there's only 2 significant holes hidden under the back seat.
And as for the beta testing? I did this install last winter and even got to try it at 10 deg F OAT one morning (record cold for this area), FREAKING AWESOME!!! the bus was tolerable inside after 3 minutes and you could remove your coat in 5 after a dead cold fireup, the defrosters weren't even making heat yet. I still have to come up with a heat shield for the rubber cargo mat as the smell of hot rubber does get a litle thick afer a while and a timer switch would be nice, but in general I'm very happy and got it done for less than just the supply tank for a propex would have cost. 
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
73kombi
Banned
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 1215
Location: ~The London Bridge, AZ~
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject: Re: Winter's coming, time for some heat, BN-2 install |
|
|
That's EXACTLY how I imagined your engine compartment to look... 
BN4's ROCK! (mine works only because you fixed her)
nice post BD!
Cue up some Rush, Bryan Adams, or Allanis Morisette.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
nice work BusDaddy. Just wish I could have been there when you were doing the delicate work...
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51153
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| SGKent wrote: |
| nice work BusDaddy. Just wish I could have been there when you were doing the delicate work... |
Hahahahaha..... Thanks, yeah that first hole involved some major pucker, especially with that brake line nearby. I drilled a tiny, short pilot hole first to confirm my measurements and pre drilled the holes for the exhaust and combustion air pipes in a piece of 1X4 first, then screwed that to the floor using the proposed hold down holes and used it as a guide for the hole saw. All this when I knew nobody was around to distract me  I lost count of how many times the back seat was in and out for fit confirmation.
Kombi, the BN-4 is a better heater by far, but I don't drive the bus when the snow is falling, to many freaks on the road let alone the salt, this one heats the bus fine for an average winter day and is almost instant heat. Alot of my trips lately are less than 5 miles each way and the engine heat is just starting to be useful by the time I get there.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
it is a very nice and clean jpb. Did you make the exhaust tailpipe or is that a sawed off 1978 heater dump?
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
skid
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2009
Posts: 1329
Location: Vancouver, BC
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nice work! I'm totally jealous...oh to have heat during those cold winter days. I just hate the part when you're driving when its cold and your windshield fogs up like mad, so you gotta drive around for a bit with the windows down so you can see but it just makes it colder inside!
_________________
'71 Westfalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
73kombi
Banned
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 1215
Location: ~The London Bridge, AZ~
|
| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| SGKent wrote: |
| Did you make the exhaust tailpipe or is that a sawed off 1978 heater dump? |
The tailpipes are exclusive (i think) for eberspacher heaters...some folks think i have a dual exhaust system....it's just my heater.
note the 'blockage' in both mine, and BusDaddy's tailpipes....it serves a purpose...
Last edited by 73kombi on Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dan macmillan
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2003
Posts: 3110
Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
I believe it is to prevent plugging should you back into a snowbank. Plugging it would result in heater shutdown.
_________________
Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
purplepeopleeater
Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005
Posts: 3117
Location: E. Washington
|
| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Thats Exactly what i'll do...That is a great install! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22463
Location: Escondido CA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ddwbeagles
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2009
Posts: 507
Location: Stephens City, VA
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:13 am Post subject: Brrrr it's chilly |
|
|
Busdaddy, you again impress us with your savy and professionalism. That is one sweet intall. Nice work!
_________________
David W - from Chesterfield, VA / Jefferson SD / Stephens City, VA in that order.
71 Ghia Coupe autostick
78 Westy
86 Vanagon Weekender
| hazetguy wrote: |
| i'm going to stock up on search buttons |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
purplepeopleeater
Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2005
Posts: 3117
Location: E. Washington
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
One thing, are you pulling stale air from the cabin? I read you ran it up the back of the seat..  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51153
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
| purplepeopleeater wrote: |
| One thing, are you pulling stale air from the cabin? I read you ran it up the back of the seat.. |
It gets it's heating air from the area under the seat, there's a nice gap at each end of the backrest facing the luggage area and space at the ends of the lower seat at the sidewalls, the total hole area is much larger than the inlet on the heater. Combustion air comes from under the bus, it's the small tube beside the exhaust.
I was playing around with the long and short elbows and found that they muffle the fan noise quite a bit, the long one runs across behind the heater and the short one does another 180 back to facing left. Look between the wiring cover on the heater and the seat leg to see the open end of the short elbow, near where the wires and fuel line come through the firewall.
[url][/url]
They are just stuck on there with a friction fit and seem to stay on fine so far, if I remove them and the outlet duct I can remove the back seat without disturbing the heater.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gordonzo
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 126
Location: BC, Canada
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hey Busdaddy- Have you got another one of them BN-2's kicking around? I just need something to use for early spring and late fall camping and don't want to take out a mortgage on a Propex! A small gravity-feed type furnace would be ideal too but can't find one.
_________________
1958 Sunroof Sedan (For Sale) - SOLD
1972 Deluxe Sunroof - For Sale1975 Campmobile with 2.0 litre (summer driver)
| busdaddy wrote: |
Tried soaking it in some search?
"We are taking it to the shop soon" - Those words always end badly, why not tackle it yourself? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51153
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'll see what I can find, in your case you may be better off hooking up with Purplepeopleeater for that BA-6 rig.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Batan
Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2003
Posts: 1637
Location: Vancouver, BC
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nice and clean install busdaddy!
I have yet to see how the stock heats holds up in Vancouver "winter". 
_________________
'69 Riviera Bay
'03 20th Anniversary GTI
'74 Super Beetle
Badzak Creative – Still and Motion Pictures |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
73kombi
Banned
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 1215
Location: ~The London Bridge, AZ~
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Batan wrote: |
| I have yet to see how the stock heats holds up in Vancouver "winter". |
I find stock heaters good only one thing...winter drives over 20 miles.(seems to take that long to heat up the system and I have all my pipes insulated) The gas heater can pre-heat your bus, provide early morning/late night camping comfort, and keep you "JUST PLAIN COMFORTABLE"... 
Anything less than 20 miles, just dress warm. They never actually 'defrost' the front window, so a T-shirt is always at hand anyways...
Oh, and if you hit a deep puddle of water...need I mention the Bus sauna? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51153
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| 73kombi wrote: |
| Oh, and if you hit a deep puddle of water...need I mention the Bus sauna? |
Try that move in a singlecab with holey heat exchangers, all the windows instantly turn white 
I found the same thing with the stock heater, it works well but it's nearly useless on short trips which I seem to do alot lately, that's why I went with the gas heater.
The alternative is the mittens with the squeegee sewn on to the back of one and an ice scraper on the other. 
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Batan
Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2003
Posts: 1637
Location: Vancouver, BC
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| 73kombi wrote: |
| Batan wrote: |
| I have yet to see how the stock heats holds up in Vancouver "winter". |
I find stock heaters good only one thing...winter drives over 20 miles.(seems to take that long to heat up the system and I have all my pipes insulated) The gas heater can pre-heat your bus, provide early morning/late night camping comfort, and keep you "JUST PLAIN COMFORTABLE"...
Anything less than 20 miles, just dress warm. They never actually 'defrost' the front window, so a T-shirt is always at hand anyways...
Oh, and if you hit a deep puddle of water...need I mention the Bus sauna? |
Haha...
That's one thing that was always appealing to me about gas heaters - the instant heat. They beat even watercooled modern cars that way.
_________________
'69 Riviera Bay
'03 20th Anniversary GTI
'74 Super Beetle
Badzak Creative – Still and Motion Pictures |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22463
Location: Escondido CA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
