Date:         Sat, 17 Apr 2004 00:42:47 -0700
Reply-To:     James V <tornadored@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         James V <tornadored@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Front airbox foam for flaps
Comments: To: Larry Barth <lbarth@LAURELWEB.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <018b01c42430$31d09580$3815220c@lbarth>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

On 4/16/04 20:58, "Larry Barth" <lbarth@LAURELWEB.NET> wrote:

> I'm doing the same thing right now and found good material at a Joanne
> Fabrics Store (a local chain here in western Pennsylvania) .  Went in
> looking for thin foam and came out with one eighth of a yard of headliner
> material which will be enough to cut new foam for all my flaps.

I went to an upholstery shop that recently redid a headliner for me and
asked the [friendly] owner/operator about foam.  He had some material that
matched fairly well - similar to the headliner fabric at JoAnne.  BUT, he
said it would NOT hold up well to the temperature of the heater and that it
would soon dry and crumble.

Someone on the list w/ the IR thermometer was kind enough to measure the
temp at the front vents: 160F.  I assume it would be bit hotter further in
the housing.  I'm guessing the foam should be rated to at least 200F.

There was a topic about his a few weeks ago and I never really found a
definitive answer.  I went through everything at McMaster.com and couldn't
find anything that matched the stock foam.

Finally, upon someone's recommendation I went w/ the pipe insulation wrap
from Home Depot.  It's much more dense than the stock foam, but fairly
conforming.  My van isn't running yet, so I have no idea how well it'll
work, but I got sick of searching and just wanted to put the thing back
together.

Good luck,

James V
90 Carat