Heating Idea for Early Bus

Vanman_spud · Post by **Vanman_spud** » Sun Dec 29, 2002 3:39 am

Try this site for info on installing a blower and insulating a bus:
http://www.bulley-hewlett.com/VWindex/

Floyd · Post by **Floyd** » Mon Dec 30, 2002 8:06 pm

Well I did it.
I installed a bilge fan, insulated the duct work all the way forward and mounted a late bus booster fan that draws air form inside the cab and merges with doghouse air. All that is left is to mount a switch up front that controls them both fans.
The wiring is kinda rigid for now unitl I put the switch in.
I will also add some insulation up front over the holiday.
Of course, the weather has been nice lately so the bus heats up pretty fast. The true test will be when it gets colder.
I'll post some photos soon.
Floyd.

busboy67 · Post by **busboy67** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 12:03 pm

I feel one of the most important things when heating any vw, is the thermostat, and flapps. I recently fixed mine, and increased the bus temp 2x the original. I live in cold indiana, and generally never used my flaps(bad, I know) but now I do, and the bus heats up faster(the engine) Which means! More heat for me

Plus my engine runs fairly cool in the wamer weather(160-in 65 degree weather) And so the flaps don't even open all the way, which means, i get more air forced into the bus cabin. works out quite well.

The other MAJOR thing is DRAFTS. You need to get the drafts all fixed, then the bus can maintain it's heat. You'd be amazed at teh difference...Once i got my drafts taken care of, and my flaps fixed, well a 30 min ride on a 30 degree day....I can ride with my sweatshirt on, and that's all I need. Plus i can't see my breath! woohoo!
Writing from Indiana,
James

Eaallred · Post by **Eaallred** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 5:17 pm

As far as a recirculating heater goes, what about this?:

I'm about to install one of those 4" bilge blowers (230cfm) up at the front of my bus. But here's the twist. Instead of my heater hoses going to the fan shroud from the heater boxes, I'm going to connect the tops of the two heaterboxes together and plug the shroud. This way, the air will be drawn in from the heaterlog under the back seat, through one heaterbox, then through the other, then pulled up front. Hot air would then go past the driver area, and flow to the back to be recirculated again. I don't know if that will be too much of a restriction for the bilge fan to take, so we'll have to see how it goes. If it is, then i'll just hook the hoses back up to the shroud for extra 'push', but i'm thinking it just might work.

I've had the fanblades on bilge blowers melt before, but that was with them mounted right after the heaterbox in the summertime. If this one melts in the summer, I figure $27 for a new fan each fall isn't too bad. I'm hoping that the air wont be hot enough to melt the blades after traveling all they way up the heater pipe, time will tell.

I might get it hooked up this weekend, I have to see if my friend will let me borrow his sawsall on Saturday so I can do it.

Unfortunatly, if this does work well, only buses that have the rear log will be able to do it.

------------------
Eric Allred
64 Bus
64 Bug

Floyd · Post by **Floyd** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 7:44 pm

The recirculation helps speed up the warming process. The Bilge blower and the air from the doghouse fan supply pleanty of air.
I added insulation this weekend. What a difference
I bought this stuff that feels and looks like bubble wrap with aluminum foil on both sides. Works very well.
I lined the front doors, roof and nose area.
Reflects heat back and keeps the cool out. I'll insulate the rest of the bus next weekend.
I need to puts some rubber boots on the pedals and install the splash pan.
Floyd.

alsehendo · Post by **alsehendo** » Thu Jan 02, 2003 10:39 pm

Could you convert the oil cooler exhaust port to a tube outlet and run it through fire wall to cab. I now the T4 conversion chaps do this. See the Nexgen T4 vonversion manual.