15 below zero report

[KAmes]

Minus 15! I started the gas heater 20 minutes before leaving for work, this by the way is fabulous. The engine actually started easily. The transmission oil had been replaced with wet cement and the steering was REALLY hard to turn. I soon discovered the steering wouldn't self return either. Otherwise the drive went well. The throttle was a little touchy, felt like it was leaning out on acceleration. Did I mention the gas heater is amazing? We'll see how it goes this morning, only 8 below outside.

[CarlIseminger]

My '68 had a gas heater and after work, when it was 20 below, within 60 seconds I couldn't see my breath anymore.

My '69 Vert, when it is this cold out, you are correct. I can barely move the shifter for the first mile or so.
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1969 VW Beetle Convertible

[Tom K.]

I remember how very well these cars ran in cold snowy conditions. It's a shame that the salt has ruined all of that fun. Someday I hope to take my VW out to a farm somewhere and buzz around on snowy unsalted roads. I had a stock heating system that would bake me alive on those cold mornings, but I had to downshift into third to get good defroster action on my windshield.
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'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[ashman40]

You knew this old VW commercial would have to show up for a thread like this...


Link

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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[KAmes]

[KAmes]

[KAmes]

[ashman40]

[KAmes]

[windfish]

^^ I think those only stand a chance with the aftermarket heat exchangers, the stock ones will melt the body of the fan (that, or maybe the older bilge fans were better made)

I made a sheet metal shroud for the fan (the blade seems to be made of more heat tolerant plastic) and stuck it in a custom Y (no metal Y's were harmed in the making).

AlmostHeaven used motorcycle helmet fans to boost the defrost, https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8856144


It was down to +17°F here this morning and that was cold enough, you guys can keep the negatives

[VW_Jimbo]

[windfish]

^ I posted a thread when I was working on it ~4 years ago - https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=614408
If I had to do it over I'd start with all metal, the fiberglass stunk for a short while after installation and it probably wasn't great to breath. No smell now though, still works fine. Decent air boost at idle and low-speed driving, not a huge diff on the highway.

Making the sheet metal round enough and centering the new fan bracket was a little fiddly, you want minimal separation between the blades and the new shroud. Likely something commercial you can repurpose.

Seen some squirrel cage fans installed in that area that prob blow a little harder.

[bluebus86]

[KAmes]

[KAmes]

Think about it, your driving along thinking your bug isn't running right, are all your squirrels accounted for? Hmmm? It makes sense to a squirrel, needs more fweem, let's rich that sucker up.

[KAmes]

This morning's drive to work at 8 below was uneventful. The car behaved more or less normal, for it anyway. Temperatures are supposed to be in the teens by this evening, and 50 by Sunday.

[KAmes]

I thought about trying one of those helmet fans AlmostHeaven used for defrost and simply drawing air from the passenger foot well where the gas heater is blowing into, not connecting it directly.

[plotch]

To loosen the shifting you can swap to a synthetic gear lube that won't get stiff in the cold.

[KAmes]

[bluebus86]