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Beefle
Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2014
Posts: 42
Location: New England
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 Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2016 7:58 pm Post subject: Heater Channels |
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I've been pricing out replacement heater channels, and it's between the KLOKKERHOLM set for $276 or the "economy" one without the heat tubes for $170. I know the quality won't be great, but the extra $100 could go a long way . Do you guys have any experience with these channels? Or is it worth the extra $100.
Thanks!! |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26356
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Dwayne1m
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011
Posts: 3543
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:22 am Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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| What extra you will spend on the best quality part you can afford is well worth it compared to the massaging and headaches it will create while trying to save $ buying cheap ill-fitting parts. |
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allsidius
Samba Member
Joined: February 02, 2010
Posts: 1481
Location: Norway
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 2:57 am Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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The Beetle is a high quality car. Don't put in any junk parts.
I installed a cheap exhaust once, it lasted 2 years before being more rotten than the 15+ year old original german part I had ditched. The next exhaust cost about 4 times as much, and it is now going on 20 years (albeit with less mileage the last 15). Never again!
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1973 1303S w sunroof Click to view image
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Danpa
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2007
Posts: 1334
Location: Valparaiso, in
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 4:01 am Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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When I first bought my Beetle, I bought some aftermarket heater channels. Poor quality. General shape but not very good stampings. The bottom plate was welded on so that the heater channel had twist in it. Should have sent them back.
I ended up buying a NOS pair from OEVeedub in Colorado. What a difference, fit perfect, thicker steel and crisp, correct pressings.
WELL WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY!
My advice...
Don't buy on price on this. It's not like you can change it out easily later, like a bolt on item.
Dan
BTW, if you REALLY want a pair of brand new, never used Klokkerholm channels, PM me. I'll make you a deal.
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67 Beetle (gone)
68 Bay Window Double Cab (gone) sob, sob!
64 Beetle (gone)
77 Scirocco (gone)
73 Squareback (scrapped)
70 Beetle, Finally back on the road after 18 years! |
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green1303
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014
Posts: 748
Location: Alexandria, VA
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13701
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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Another option is to find someone cutting up a bug that is in the dry SW USA. They could cut the heater channels out and ship them to you. I'd go this route is I installed another set. ALL the aftermarket channels sold today are nowhere close to the original German made ones.
Yes, you'll have to clean up and remove the extra metal off the donor's but it would be well worth it.
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40+ years of VW repair, and VW parts and vehicle restoration experience.
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Air-Cooled Head
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2002
Posts: 4070
Location: Chicago Suburbs
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 7:34 am Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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Something I've learned over 20+ years with some 15-18 ACVWs:
The cheap, short-cut usually costs more, time and money.
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Everything known to man has been written.
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davidw99
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2003
Posts: 698
Location: Boston, MA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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| green1303 wrote: |
If you are on a tight budget, JP Group (Dansk) makes an acceptable heater channel that is better than Klokkerholm. CIP1 sells them.
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TAB%2D400%2D451
The stamping is not as crisp as stock, particularly around the inlet and outlet of the heat duct, but I found them to be ok otherwise. |
I had these put on my Super with no problems. Still solid after ten years (of course the car does not see winter weather).
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Dave
'73 Saturn Yellow Sports Bug that has undergone a full pan off restoration. "Herbert IV."
'67 Sedan. "Bellamy." Currently being "refreshed" and recently repainted. |
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Volks Wagen
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2013
Posts: 2931
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 10:34 am Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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Maybe u can patch them up? Mine are a bit rusted and I'm in no rush, so I've examined them in situ and cleaned them, cut them open in places and tackled the insides with rust treatment and rustproofing and then closed them up using good new metal from sheet stock. Probably not your bag, but it is an option that may work in some circumstances. It's what I'm doing with the whole car, keeping as much original metal as possible and just cutting out rust + a bit around it, back to completely good metal! then weld new in and seal it all up like fort knox. Nothing aftermarket will really fit perfectly, and to be honest, the good steel on these cars I want to keep rather than swap a whole panel with dubious quality shit, even if I can save half of it. The sheet steel I buy is good quality and I form it to fit. This also allows me to support certain areas better than original and make slight changes.
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1973 1303 with AB-motor - sporadic
reconstruction as time permits, 1986 ex-Bundeswehr Doka - on the road again.
I'm definitely, probably, the worlds greatest lover.
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BWingate
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2005
Posts: 77
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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| allsidius wrote: |
The Beetle is a high quality car. Don't put in any junk parts.
I installed a cheap exhaust once, it lasted 2 years before being more rotten than the 15+ year old original german part I had ditched. The next exhaust cost about 4 times as much, and it is now going on 20 years (albeit with less mileage the last 15). Never again! |
And you can change an exhaust in a couple of hours, so if you need to "make do" with cheap parts, it is not too much of an extra investment. For the heater channels, the labor costs is so much higher - even if its your own labor - if you have to replace cheap parts too soon, or do a lot of extra fab work.
Follow the other's advice and spend the extra $100 |
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Volks Wagen
Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2013
Posts: 2931
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2016 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: Heater Channels |
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| BWingate wrote: |
| allsidius wrote: |
The Beetle is a high quality car. Don't put in any junk parts.
I installed a cheap exhaust once, it lasted 2 years before being more rotten than the 15+ year old original german part I had ditched. The next exhaust cost about 4 times as much, and it is now going on 20 years (albeit with less mileage the last 15). Never again! |
And you can change an exhaust in a couple of hours, so if you need to "make do" with cheap parts, it is not too much of an extra investment. For the heater channels, the labor costs is so much higher - even if its your own labor - if you have to replace cheap parts too soon, or do a lot of extra fab work.
Follow the other's advice and spend the extra $100 |
It could be much more work and expense to replace them given the body has to come off the car, than to repair them in situ. Given they're not highly visible, then solid and functional is fine. Working on your hobby in your free time does not equate to labor costs.
The OP should think this through - do you really want to lift the body off the pan, cut off the old channels and weld in the new? Or do you want to buy 5 years now cheap? There's a time and a place for everything.
_________________
1973 1303 with AB-motor - sporadic
reconstruction as time permits, 1986 ex-Bundeswehr Doka - on the road again.
I'm definitely, probably, the worlds greatest lover.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile. |
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