Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:05:20 -0800
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Mod. Fresh air box to recycle cabin air? (did some searching
in arch.)
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90703232045x239c74c9p3d82f53a351ee632@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Banjo players just seem to have something wrong with their internal heating
systems. They're always wearing twice as much clothing as anyone else in
the band, onstage and off, and when you feel their fingers they are ice
cold.
I still have the factory radiator blind from my Citroen H van. Its
adjustable up and down to allow differing amounts of cooling air through
the radiator. Come to think of it, the double chevrons might look snappy on
the front of a Vanagon!
On 3/23/07, neil <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> True, blocking rad helps. I seem to recall a picture of an old Volvo
> with some kind of metal curtain that could be pulled across rad.
>
> At this point I have newspaper stuffed in fresh air intake. Certainly
> helps given that I'm running a little 12v heater these days.
>
> So likely I have too much time on my hands, but I went ahead and did the
> mods.
>
> Pics about that and other related here:
>
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil/iWeb/Site%205/FreshAir_Mods.html
>
> And yes I can always open a window eh? --- ;^)
>
> I can't imagine a banjo player unhappy! --- ;^)
>
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
>
> On 3/23/07, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I never had any trouble with moisture; that's why you have vent wings
> > Neil! :)
> >
> > The cardboard doesn't block all air flow, just slows it down enough to
> > keep the temperature up. We did a couple of winter tours of the BC
> Interior
> > and blocking off the top portion of the rad was all it took to keep the
> band
> > (well, not the banjo player) warm and happy.
> >
> > On 3/22/07, neil <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hey Jake.
> > >
> > > If he does that, then on cold days, wouldn't moisture build up in cab
> > > air? (i.e. no fresh air)
> > >
> > > Of course in my van I'm sure fresh air gets in a lot of other places.
> > >
> > > Even with windows up!
> > >
> > >
> > > Neil.
> > >
> > > On 3/22/07, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > Mark, you could just wire some cardboard over the upper air intake
> to
> > keep
> > > > air temps up. :)
> > > >
> > > > On 3/22/07, Mark Tuovinen <mst@ak.net> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Neil,
> > > > >
> > > > > I have been meaning to reply to your first post on this, I too am
> > thinking
> > > > > of what can be done to improve the heat output as it is less than
> > > > > desireable. We are in the midst of one of our coldest average
> temp.
> > winters
> > > > > in decades, around +`9F average with many nights at my house from
> `0F
> > to
> > > > > -`20F and my `87 Syncro just never gets warm enough unless you
> drive
> > for a
> > > > > long time which most days I do not. I would get it the license
> plate
> > > > > "icebox"(it is white) but that is already taken. I like the idea
> of
> > finding
> > > > > a way to block off the outside air and create recirculated air and
> > will
> > > > > gladly pull the dash to modify as necessary, I have to anyway as
> my
> > > > > passenger side wiper pivot broke earlier this winter. My initial
> > thoughts
> > > > > have been similar to yours a controllable flapper on the fresh air
> > intake
> > > > > and a way to get recirculated air to the core. Unfortunately it
> has
> > been
> > > > > seven months since I had a dash apart and my memory of the air
> intake
> > area
> > > > > is a little shaky. I am also going to
> > > > > try and eliminate some of the drafts that enter the van via the
> doors,
> > > > > parking brake handle, etc. I know of people that have installed a
> > clear
> > > > > plastic curtain behind the front seats and ducted the rear heater
> > output to
> > > > > the front, unfortunately my kids would complain if I did this,
> they
> > feel
> > > > > that they too deserve the benefits from the heater.
> > > > >
> > > > > Mark in AK
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> > > > > Date: Thursday, March 22, 2007 9:13 am
> > > > > Subject: Re: Mod. Fresh air box to recycle cabin air? (did some
> > searching
> > > > > in arch.)
> > > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > > >
> > > > > > Hi Ryan.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks for reply.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > I would, however recommendyou block off the two hoses coming
> out
> > > > > > the sides of the >heater box.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Good idea. Much simpler than mine. If I could though, I would
> like
> > to
> > > > > > have 100% control of fresh air intake and recirculate cab air.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This is what I would do:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > make flap to control fresh air intake at air intake behind front
> > > > > > grill.
> > > > > > remove plastic fresh air ram flaps in box, block opening below
> these
> > > > > > so air drawn by fan is not drawn from area of heater core. With
> flap
> > > > > > closed at air intake ram behind grill, fan would draw air from
> cab
> > > > > > through the fresh air vents.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Then I could control/mix fresh air intake with cab air. Not sure
> how
> > > > > > restrictive the diamter of fresh air vents would be.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I think it's possible to do.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hardest part?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Fabbing flap (odd shape) for air intake ram behind grill.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Or dealing with taking dash apart again cuz it didn't
> > work...... ;^)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thoughts?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 3/22/07, Ryan Miller < rmiller@azteca.com> wrote:
> > > > > > > Neil, I came up against the same problem you're having when I
> > > > > > did my air to
> > > > > > > water conversion. I couldn't find any practical way to recycle
> > > > > > the air
> > > > > > > unfortunately. If you do, pass the info along. I would,
> however
> > > > > > recommend> you block off the two hoses coming out the sides of
> the
> > > > > > heater box. These
> > > > > > > are fresh air hoses that go to the far left and right dash
> vents
> > > > > > and don't
> > > > > > > heat when the heater is on. Maybe the vent flaps close off the
> > > > > > air flow
> > > > > > > enough though. With that done, I've found the heater works
> > > > > > plenty well here
> > > > > > > in Utah during the winter.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Ryan
> > > > > > > '82 Camper Van 'Beethoven'
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:37:26 -0800
> > > > > > > From: neil < musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> > > > > > > Subject: Mod. Fresh air box to recycle cabin air? (did some
> > > > > > searching in
> > > > > > > arch.)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hi all.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Am rebuilding fresh air box and will install heater core as I
> > > > > > will convert
> > > > > > > to a water cooled engine.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I understand how the box works but.....
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Assuming box rebuild and engine conversion done properly;
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > will the heater properly heat cabin in really cold weather?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > (There isn't going to be a rear heater)
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > If not, is there a way to mod box to recyle the cabin air?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Obviously recycling air from cabin would at least make initial
> > > > > > heating> process more efficient.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > One idea I had in that regard.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Block off fresh air intake, (or make flap to control fresh air
> > > > > > intake at ram
> > > > > > > outside.Difficult I know....), remove fresh air ram flaps,
> > > > > > make/install a
> > > > > > > piece underneath area below flap(s) to block air from being
> > > > > > "pulled" from
> > > > > > > area of box pressurized by fan, so air from cabin could be
> drawn
> > > > > > from side
> > > > > > > fresh air vents.The drawback would be no more fresh air from
> > > > > > fresh blown
> > > > > > > from air vent at ends of dash.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Has anyone done this? If I'm totally off base, please educate
> me!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Any thoughts or success stories in this regard are welcome.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > And for you air cooled people considering upgrading to water
> > > > > > cooled, I can
> > > > > > > provide pics of box showing how/why heater core can be
> > > > > > installed. Have not
> > > > > > > installed heater core yet. (Am waiting for parts!) but can
> show
> > > > > > where box is
> > > > > > > cut for heater core nipples.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Jake
> > > > 1984 Vanagon GL
> > > > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> > > > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
> > >
> > > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Jake
> > 1984 Vanagon GL
> > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> > www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
>
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
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