Squirrel Cage Type Blower for Heater

[busman78]

Having done a few inline blowers, decided to try a squirrel cage style, if anything to reduce the noise. This install is in a 78 bay, up front, fits under the cover pan and uses the stock hose uncut. The blower is a Jabsco 105 CFM model 35115-0020, besides the blower only a 2" PVC 90* elbow, some 1" tape, sealer and a few screws are needed.

Supplies:

Tape is used to increase OD of PVC elbow for a tight fit on the intake side of the blower.

Although you don't have to I cut (nibbled) the flange plastic off using a set of dikes, just makes for a cleaner install. The air out of the blower is a good fit to the metal tube, little to no tape is required.

Elbow slipped into blower, ready for install.

Pull the stock hose off the tube where it enters the floor up front, fit slip the flange end (air out) of the blower over the tube, with the elbow loosely fitted figure out the best angle for the blower to fit and receive the uncut stock hose. You can cut the original hose if you want, or get some 70mm or 2-3/4" hose in a shorter length if you desire. But installed the blower with uncut hose fits snuggly with the pan cover on. Once the placement is figured out I used two self drilling sheet metal screws to secure the blower to the tube and the elbow to the blower, then a little autobody sealer where the elbow enters the blower. I grounded the blower under the bus, used the rear window defroster switch to power the blower since the defroster grid is useless.

Here are several pictures of the installed blower, hard to photograph, not a lot of room for the camera.

This blower set up is far enough forward in the bus that there is no chance of it getting melted, it is quiter than the normal inline, but with two 90* angles the air must pass through, one at the elbow and the other created by the fan there is reduced flow of heat without the blower on, but when on it does blow a considerable amount of air. I hope to acquire a 150 CFM blower of the same style and give it a try.

[BusterBrown]

Nice write up, and thanks for sharing. Have you been following Wildthings' thread on inline blowers lately?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=371749&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

After you've road tested it for awhile, please give us a follow up report.

Thanks!!
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1977 Transporter

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[busman78]

Two of the pictures above are in Wildthings thread, did not want to jumble his write up with this one.

[notchboy]

Im in the process of getting and or looking into why my og fan is kaput. My biggest question is why not fix the og fan in the motor compartment? Are the og fans crap and or does this put out more cfm? Old og ones not available?????


Thanks
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[busdaddy]

The OG booster fan is great at a traffic light and slightly noticeable at speed, a fan like WT's or Busman's improves airflow at all speeds and usually makes the heater almost competant.
Good job Busman, can't wait to see how it holds up.
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[Wildthings]

Nice clean install, I may go that way someday myself. You might consider jambing the rear diverter valve open a bit like I did so that when the fan is on you suck a little cool air in with the hot to drop the temperature of the air flow a bit.

[busman78]

That would be hard to do since all the rear ducts & hose are gone, I only heat the front. Also have a thermal blanket that snaps to the ceiling right behind the front seats that closes off the front area, it does get roasty toasty at times.

[notchboy]

Is this in conjunction with the og fan or is the og fan out of the pic compleetly? As well do you use the switch intigrated with the levers on the dash or do you wire in a whole new deal?
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[busman78]

The OG blower is gone, I use the switch that was originally for the rear window defroster to turn the blower on.

[notchboy]

[Wildthings]

[busman78]

I also gets in the way of my weber set up. Don't like clutter.

[notchboy]

[WhirledTraveller]

Thanks for the excellent write up. I may go this route soon. I particularly like that it is both stealth and reversible.
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1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam.

[Klaussinator]

[grandpa pete]

Thanks for including the "PARTS LIST DETAILS". How will this effect the defroster which is more important in florida than heat ?

[notchboy]

[danilo209]

This is a great idea. I will definitely will have to apply it to my bus since my OG blower is completely dead and I need to get some heat up front. I also like the idea of the thermal blanket to keep the heat all in one place.

Thumbs up!
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1974 Westfalia tin top (sold)
1956 VW Allied 20-2 Fiberglass buggy (in parts)
1971 German Look Super Beetle (Sold)
1967 Ruby Red Bug

[busman78]

The front defroster and front heat is all I have in the bus, still mix the amount with the control lever, all heat to the floor or all to the defrost or a blend.

So far not a lot of opportunity to test, had a very mild fall, days in the 40's & 50's.

[chris roop]

Hmmm. I'm thinking of how this remote blower could be adapted to a 68 bus. Thanks!