Ventilation/heater controls

[RobnRae]

Brand new to the air cooled nation. Bought a nice 72 bay window and have figured out most except for how to work the heating and airflow in the bus. There are two levers with blue knob and two with red knobs. And I think that there’s a switch that I can flip it’s my foot and another on the base of my seat, that also have something to do with airflow.
Basically, living in Canada I’m wondering how to keep warm this winter!
Thanks

[Busstom]

One place you might want to check also is the "Technical" drop-down menu up top on TheSamba banner, then select Owner's Manuals. The manual for your vehicle probably offers a bunch of interesting tidbits for your model.

[Wildthings]

Yes find your owner's manual in the TECHNICAL section. Also read the Blumaxx thread and see what you can do to make your heater work significantly better than stock.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=371749&highlight=bluemax%2A

If your bus was originally sold in Canada, maybe you will be lucky and have a gas heater. What heater like controls do you have on your dash besides the levers?

[static]

[SGKent]

[busdaddy]

The 72 heat system works remarkably well when it's all sealed up properly, possibly the best year for heat in a bus.

Have a look at page 42 here: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/72bus.php
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[Tcash]

Welcome to TheSamba, Bay Window Bus Forum!

1972 NEWBIE

1972 Bay one year only list
The '72 only photos thread

[sjbartnik]

Important thing to know about these cars is that the cool/fresh air ventilation is split from the heat system.

The blue levers control only the fresh air ventilation. That air comes in through the grille on the nose. Those levers just operate some flaps that open or close as desired. Those flaps should have some kind of seal on them so that they seal when closed. Usually it's rotted away leading to cold drafts in the winter. You will want to fix that up.

The fresh air ventilation is ducted to the outlets at the outer edge of the dashboard as well as to the base of the windshield.

The heat system is entirely separate - air for cabin heat is taken in by the engine cooling fan in the engine compartment, passed through the heat exchangers, and ducted up a pipe underneath the center of the Bus. The vent outlets under the rear seat, in the walk-through, and in the front footwells are for heat only.

That heat duct also runs up to defroster vents at the base of the windshield.

Before it gets cold out it's worth going through the whole system, making sure all joints are tight, no air leaks, etc. Might want to take down the central pipe and vacuum it out; I found a bunch of crap in mine impeding airflow.

Good time also to check and adjust all vent control cables in the system - as these open and close the various vents to direct the heat where you want it.

As mentioned above see the owner's manual for specifics on how your system works, it changed slightly year by year.
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1965 Volkswagen 1500 Variant S
2000 Kawasaki W650

[hiwaycallin]

sjbartnik, what a great explanation of the heating and ventilation system! I've had my bus for nearly 10 years and still didn't fully understand exactly how those levers work

[RobnRae]

Thank you for the info everyone

[Oilspot11]

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/freemefromthishell/vw/T2%20Heating.htm

HTH

[fes]

I drove around many a winter in south western BC and Vancouver Island in a Bus..
The best tool you can utilize is a small hand held squeegee..you will be quite often clearing moisture from the windshield and windows..
This job is the responsibility of the shotgun passenger unless driving solo..
And make a habit of sopping all that water off the dash regularly.
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'68 Campmobile-Pedro
'15 Golf-Stella Blau
'56 Oval-The Turd (for now)

[Tcash]

[Wildthings]

[pittwagen]

I like that. It would not be too difficult to make some round flanges and then hook it up under the front floor. Add a 3 sp switch and away you go. Lots of air for slow speed city driving.

I live in the north east area of metro van. My bus sits outside and I never need to wipe the inside of the windows. Start the bus run both front a back fans and away we go. BN4 for those way below freezing mornings. I drive it year round. 4 C-rated winter tires. None of this parking it in the winter BS.

To the Original Poster. Does your heating system function as it should? Gas heater?

[busdaddy]

I have a very similar blower in the 71, it came from a Datsun 311 but it looks just like that Dayton unit. I put it in the center heat tube under the cargo floor, not super great for ground clearance when offroading but I haven't squished it yet. I used a couple PVC sewer elbows and wrapped the whole thing with foil bubble insulation and foil tape, then spooged the sh*t out of it with undercoating. Right now I have it tapped into the useless rear defrost switch but I plan on robbing a heater lever from a 72 with the contact on it and operating it with a relay one of these days.

Best single improvement I've ever done to the bus, the windshield defrosts in a few minutes and the bus gets unbearably warm inside after 20+ minutes, yes you really do have to turn down the heat on a cold winter day. I've hauled 8 soaking wet Air cadets to and from events on pissing down cold November days and the windows that mattered were still clear.

Sorry for the shitty pic, bad light and operator error.
_________________
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!