Date:         Mon, 8 May 2006 20:00:46 -0700
Reply-To:     Clint Kolda <clint_kolda@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Clint Kolda <clint_kolda@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Subject: Re: So what did you use for the heater box foam rubber
              on the
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

So am I supposed to be looking up the vents right in front of the shifter?  On my 86, I see the foam up there.  Does the plastic cover over the heater box need to come off to replace it?  Pardon the simple question, I'm new to this and still struggling trying to understand the 4 unmarked levers on the dash.

  On another note, is there supposed to be decent air flow out of the two vents above the sliding door?  I can only feel a small amount when the fan is on high.  When I open the front door slightly, there seems to be plenty of air coming thru the passage.



  Date:    Mon, 8 May 2006 11:26:02 -0400
From:    Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: So what did you use for the heater box foam rubber on the
doors

I really want to thank those who responded to my very needy
request.Very
timely. The archives is almost empty on this subject(as far as I could
search). My early WBX heater box has the flaps sealed inside, and
removal
of the box(6 hr.) is needed ot replace the gaskets. Not so on late
boxes.
I am sure that bad seals cause many vanagon owners to go around with
cold
feet in winter, and hot feet in summer. Replacement of these gaskets on
the
late box is EZ. Just lean down and actually look at where the flaps
hinge
at. You will see little plastic pins that will relase the flaps.
Replacement of the foam gasket is by little plastic snap thingies. No
glue
needed.You can do it in an evening. The VW engineer that fixed this
situation, must have needed to replace the gaskets on an early box,
himself.  This new info in the archives will help many tempature
challenged,unhappy, vanagon owners.

I am going to use weather stripping cement for my gaskets.It is a
favorite
product of mine. Sticks tight for years. Even in the hot interior of a
car
in summer. Most glues have a very low tempature range,and may not hold
up.

 As for the foam, I now have several choices to check out. Once again,
these OEM gaskets have a skin on them for some reason. Must be for
durability and sealing. A flat gasket must seal better than a bunch of
foam
bubbles?  Whebn I put it all back together, I am confdent I will have
done
the repair correctly.