Date:         Sat, 13 Mar 2004 08:13:09 EST
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Front Heater Box Overhaul / Damper Gasketing
Comments: To: tornadored@EARTHLINK.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 3/12/04 7:25:02 PM, tornadored@EARTHLINK.NET writes:

<< I'll go back to the HD and check it out. >>

You might be wasting your time.  I imagine you are talking about the gravity
dampers, so the stuff you need has to be HIGHLY compressible and no more than
1/8" thick.  If it is not readily compressible or it is too thick, the light
weight damper will become hinge bound and held ajar when it should be closed.
Low density, open cell foam with a firmness of 1 and density of less than 0.5
is needed.  Also it should be ozone resistant; latex foam would be a poor
choice for this purpose.

Large industrial supply houses stock foam sheeting, plain and adhesive
backed, in all manner of materials for all manner of purposes.  For all I know,
there might be a website called Foam Sheeting-R-US.  The last resort for this
gasketing, which should be the first, is not a web vendor, but the VW dealer
because they have been known to allow the lowly Vanagon owner to buy replacements
for what was originally installed at the factory.

George