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VanagonPDX
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2012
Posts: 114
Location: Portland Oregon
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 Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2021 4:19 pm Post subject: Heater box difference |
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| Curious if the heater box is the same, or at least interchangeable, throughout all years of the Vanagon. That is, could I use a heater unit from an 86 in my 84? Not talking the fan, or core, but the entire box unit from inside the dash. Thanks in advance! |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 10379
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2021 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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No, they are not all the same.
But, an 86 unit should work fine in an 84.
Mark |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 10379
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2021 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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The change to heated dash side vents occurred early in the 87 model year production. The duct hose connections for these are a different shape so not a simple complete unit swap without those duct parts also.
The first 10% of 87 vans had the earlier fresh air only dash side vents.
People often confuse the year shown in the driver door frame sticker with the model year but that is a mistake.
The change to heated side vent happened in Aug 86, a few weeks into 87 model production.
Mark |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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VanagonPDX
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2012
Posts: 114
Location: Portland Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:04 pm Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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Hi all,
Thank you! Sounds like it should work. Just didn't want to rehab a box and then find out when I am ready to swap that they are not the same. This box has the molds in place for heated front vents, but they are not open, could be drilled out and made to work... or just installed as current with fresh air vents ... which I personally like. |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10497
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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Hi folks.
So a 1985 "Transporter" heater box should bolt up to the body of a (formerly) air cooled 1981 Vanagon with fresh air fan?
In 2008, while modifying the current "air cooled" box to accept a heater core, I deleted/blocked off the ram flaps so the box could potentially recycle cabin air. The heater works ok but could be better. I think the ram flap work I did may've hampered heater efficiency. That box also only has two controls; one for foot heat, one for air into box. And while I"m in there, I might install the OE metal baffle on the core.
Thanks,
Neil.
| crazyvwvanman wrote: |
| The change to heated dash side vents occurred early in the 87 model year production. The duct hose connections for these are a different shape so not a simple complete unit swap without those duct parts also. |
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 5:16 am Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
Hi folks.
So a 1985 "Transporter" heater box should bolt up to the body of a (formerly) air cooled 1981 Vanagon with fresh air fan?
In 2008, while modifying the current "air cooled" box to accept a heater core, I deleted/blocked off the ram flaps so the box could potentially recycle cabin air. The heater works ok but could be better. I think the ram flap work I did may've hampered heater efficiency. That box also only has two controls; one for foot heat, one for air into box. And while I"m in there, I might install the OE metal baffle on the core.
Thanks,
Neil.
| crazyvwvanman wrote: |
| The change to heated dash side vents occurred early in the 87 model year production. The duct hose connections for these are a different shape so not a simple complete unit swap without those duct parts also. |
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So, are you asking why your 81 box with a heater core and no ram air doesn't deliver much heat?
Or
Are you asking if an 85 heater box will deliver more heat?
And will it fit?
Yes it will fit.
In any case, reopen the ram air to get more flow than just the blower fan itself provides at speed.
I think permanently blocking off ram air is a short sighted action.
I had a 1965 Triumph Spitfire...... FUN car!
ZERO fresh air to the footwells!
Absolute HELL in the Summer months! I wired dryer hoses to the rear view mirrors to provide some relief at speed.
Anyway, I made a heater box modification for my Vanagon.
I made a cable controlled ram air block off with cabin air recirculation way back in 2014. It works GREAT!
There is a build thread on it.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=605822&highlight=
Dave
_________________
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Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10497
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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| djkeev wrote: |
| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
Hi folks.
So a 1985 "Transporter" heater box should bolt up to the body of a (formerly) air cooled 1981 Vanagon with fresh air fan?
In 2008, while modifying the current "air cooled" box to accept a heater core, I deleted/blocked off the ram flaps so the box could potentially recycle cabin air. The heater works ok but could be better. I think the ram flap work I did may've hampered heater efficiency. That box also only has two controls; one for foot heat, one for air into box. And while I"m in there, I might install the OE metal baffle on the core.
Thanks,
Neil.
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So, are you asking why your 81 box with a heater core and no ram air doesn't deliver much heat?
Or
Are you asking if an 85 heater box will deliver more heat?
And will it fit?
Yes it will fit.
In any case, reopen the ram air to get more flow than just the blower fan itself provides at speed.
I think permanently blocking off ram air is a short sighted action.
I had a 1965 Triumph Spitfire...... FUN car!
ZERO fresh air to the footwells!
Absolute HELL in the Summer months! I wired dryer hoses to the rear view mirrors to provide some relief at speed.
Anyway, I made a heater box modification for my Vanagon.
I made a cable controlled ram air block off with cabin air recirculation way back in 2014. It works GREAT!
There is a build thread on it.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=605822&highlight=
Dave |
Thanks Dave.
No, the question was really if the box will fit and good to know it will. Kind of figured it would.
Some fresh air does get in while driving, fan off but no doubt that could be improved. I have a spare heater box so I figured why not put that to use and at minimum, regain proper control of air flow.
My internet connection is *slow*, pics take a long time to load, so not sure if my idea was similar to yours' but by blocking the ram flap controlled passages, and 50-75% of the intake hole at box, box on the bench, the fan would pull air in through the side vents and AFAIK, push it back past the heater core. I intended to make a control flap at the ram intake but never got past a crude flap on a piano hinge.
The heater core was a new VW part at time of that work so I doubt its at fault. IIRC, the heat control valve is a good quality VW part and AFAIK, it opens fully.
Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10497
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 10:28 am Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
So a 1985 "Transporter" heater box should bolt up to the body of a (formerly) air cooled 1981 Vanagon with fresh air fan?
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I'll post pics of this later. My "1985 Transporter" heater box has a significant difference; there is a plastic cover in place of the "main cut-off flap" etc shown on P. 80.14 in Bentley.
The "Transporter" Vanagon this box came from was a panel van type.
Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10497
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 2:16 pm Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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So I think I figured this out.
Part 25 in image below is for:
"flap for passenger compartment ventilation"
This box came from a Transporter Vanagon which I assume wasn't designed to carry passengers in the rear. So, no need to install-make parts that would route box air to the rear.
Not sure there'll be any heat advantage to putting this box in my Westy. However, even if it was a passenger van style box and all the parts required were present, not sure how much heat would get to the rear anyways.
Neil.
1985 "USA" model Vanagon
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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Ram@1234
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2025
Posts: 2
Location: Connecticut
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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Hello,
I need help with my front heater box unit!
I have 1986 VW Syncro
Does the van come with open vents all time, there is a huge air entry from the driver and passenger vents, when the blower is turned off
Please , I need to know if this is normal?
Best Regards,
Ram Sahith |
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MsTaboo 
Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006
Posts: 4562
Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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| Ram@1234 wrote: |
Hello,
I need help with my front heater box unit!
I have 1986 VW Syncro
Does the van come with open vents all time, there is a huge air entry from the driver and passenger vents, when the blower is turned off
Please , I need to know if this is normal?
Best Regards,
Ram Sahith |
Hello, welcome to the Samba! Yes the Vanagon was designed with no way to completely shut off incoming air. Only option was to shunt air around to minimize where it is blowing.
The two directional vents by each door do have shut off levers, but that only forces the air entering the heater box to blow stronger somewhere else depending how you have the levers set. Why VW didn't keep the full close vents of the Baywindow bus is a mystery.
All this is why a great product from Intrepid Overland (Vanistan) helps solve the problem:
https://intrepidoverland.com/shop/cabin-air-contro...6va95-33rH
It works really well and helps keep hot air out during summer months (allowing A/C to work better) and cold air out during winter (better heat), and also has the benefit of reducing the amount of dust that gets in when driving offload when following another vehicle!
The pull knob allows you to adjust how much air enters the front.
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52379
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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Opening the rear vents (thing bottom lever all the way to the left) reduces the pressure in the heater box. The vents at the side of the dash should seal very well if they are in good shape. Years ago I did a post on a minor modification I did to the valves on the sides of the dash to make them work a bit better. Still pleased with the mod nearly 20 years later, I have never had to touch the vents again.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2804603 |
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12318
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: Heater box difference |
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| Ram@1234 wrote: |
I have 1986 VW Syncro
Does the van come with open vents all time, there is a huge air entry from the driver and passenger vents, when the blower is turned off |
On a '86, yes. That is the way they are designed to work, they are constantly providing outside air. The vents can be "closed" but air is always going to the vent.
On later model vans those vents are tied into the other side of the heater core so they provide conditioned air and the flow can be cut off. The heater boxes can can be swapped but you need the change out the hoses to the vents as well.
The above intrepid overland product would be the next step in blocking air to even getting to the heater box if you want a recirculating air system. |
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