Don't get me started on this whole "air-cooled heat" issue. As I wrote is note a few moments ago, there is PLENTY of heat available in the air-cooled vans. What there is NOT is plenty of people (mechanics) who take the time to understand how the system works so they can fix it when it breaks. They perpetrate the myth "air cooled vans have no heat. The BatsTurds. There is also a lack of distributed knowledge about how to improve the heat using fairly simple means; though I have tried to distribute some of my knowledge on the subject through my website. Bottom line is this: your exhaust headers reaches 400-500 degrees routinely, even in the winter. If you pass enough air through new heat exchangers and into the van, and if you keep that air warm during its trip through the ducts, you can have copious 275 degree heat coming out of your ducts within minutes of starting the van. If you re-circulate some of the heated air, and insulate the van, you can push that up to 325 or higher. Our 1982 Vanagon Westy has only the slightest modification to the heating system; the central duct is insulated. The heater boxes are new, and the motor is about 9k on a rebuild. I challenge anyone to come to Mount Olive, and with an outside temperature between 30 and 35 degrees, lets put this thing on the highway... after 10 minutes running, if you can keep your hand within 1" of the heater outlet for more than 5 seconds, I'll buy you lunch. You won't need your jacket, but you will need your wallet. From historic, walkable Mount Olive, NC, G. Matthew Bulley Bulley-Hewlett Corporate Communications Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com Alliance: www.ntara.com Home: www.MountOliveNC.info
-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Rico Sapolich Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 11:41 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: HEAT glorious heat!!! In a message dated 2/15/02 11:20:44 AM, SEAN.GARRETT@ASU.EDU writes: << My 1981 also has the best heat I have ever had in a vehicle. It is delivered to the front floor vents HOT and faster than any water-cooled vehicle I have ever owned. >> OK, what's the real story on these air-cooled Vanagons? Do they REALLY heat or not? My only point of reference comes from the hours of misery I spent wiping the inside of the windshield in my girlfriend's Beetle many winters ago. If we had waited for the defrosters to clear the windows after we stopped for some fun and games, we would still be sitting there shivering and smoking our cigarettes. Rich |
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