Heater tube fix

[Pruneman99]

I wanted HEAT in my car. Yes, I'm from SoCal, but winter here is a great time to drive your car. But it's still difficult, especially in the morning, because of the condensation mostly, but it can still get cold.

I have heater boxes, but they were never hooked up to the body. So I ordered some heater tubes from WW after a misfire from the local VW place.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=712061&highlight=he

The exterior (physical construction) of the tubes were very nice. Seems like a quality product. But the interior baffles are a complete joke. So restricted due to the stupid spring that's supposed to hold the insulation.

Most of the air passage is blocked.

So, let's fix it.

[Pruneman99]

So let's pull that crap out. lucky, one end unscrews, making it easy.

So we have the batting, and some big, stupid spring thing that supposed to keep the air passage open.

[Pruneman99]

It's kinda tough to see from these pictures, but the spring that's supposed to hold the batting is actually smaller than the openings!

Even if the batting was not just puffing through the wide open springs, or too long blocking the openings, it would still be restrictive.

[Pruneman99]

The fix.

$2.50 at the hardware store for some wire mesh.

Cut it, and the overstuffed batting to 9 1/2"

Leave the ends on purpose, and bend them so it can catch on itself when rolled into a taco




The width was not measured, just rolled, and cut, so it would wrap on itself, slightly smaller than the ID of the baffles.

[Pruneman99]

Roll the mesh carefully so it doesn't kink with the cut batting on the outside and so it will slide into the baffles. Just use your fingers to expand the mesh, and the tangs you left when you cut the mesh will catch on itself. (I bent the tangs slightly outward after it cut it for this reason).

Sorry I didn't get a picture of this step. Just place the batting down on a flat surface, and roll your wire "taco" over it.

[Pruneman99]

Side your mesh taco into the baffles and push the mesh out.

Finished product:

Much better! And you can use the stupid spring things as toys.

[carcrazed]

nice fix. I know the stock ones I have had seem to be just plastic without insulation.

On a side note....come to Ohio. It is 18 degrees and I just looked out and have 16 inches of stupid white stuff to plow. Cali seems like a dream to me
_________________
1965 Herbie Replica. 1776cc dual Kads.
1961 Beetle 33,000 Original Miles

"Just When you think you are getting ahead, you're always wrong."

[Dake]

I did the same thing, only I replaced the fiber glass insulation with jute padding. I did not want fiber glass blowing into the car

[mukluk]

Do you notice better heater airflow post modification versus before?
_________________
1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[67rustavenger]

Nice "How To" write up Pruneman.

I agree with Dake on the replacement of the fiber glass for the Juke padding.
I really wouldn't want to breath the fibers blowing about the interior of the car.

A friend bought a set of those WW heater ducts. He said that the fiber glass got pushed out from the springing thingies clogging the ducts. He opted for a set of stockers.

Have a great day. And stay warm.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[Pruneman99]

[Pruneman99]

I thought about replacing the insulation with another padding, but after I rolled it up and saw how nice and tight the end result is, I think I'll just go with it.

Although it would be quite easy to use another padding for this procedure.

[viiking]

[type1abody]

I am that guy "67rustavenger" is talking about. The bug (66) came with those empi heater tubes. I assumed they were ok when I started to fix my heater system.

At one point I ran a camera into the heater channels thinking there was a nest or something blocking it, replaced the tubes up to the corner vents, center vent. Adjusted cables. Finally popped one of those off, almost completely blocked. I did the exact thing you did, hardware store screen, much less insulation. Worked great.