Date:         Wed, 19 Feb 2014 10:25:05 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: fresh air cabin filter
Comments: To: Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski <kupcinski@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <E337374A-1FE3-48DE-A838-68CCA771B161@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Modern cabin air filters are inside the car, downstream from the blower, not
on the intake side.  You might just put screen door mesh on the the large
mesh factory "filter" and check it regularly in the summer.  It won't be
bothered by water.  Old school simple solution.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 9:44 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: fresh air cabin filter

That plastic mesh is, in fact, in place, which is what made the accumulation
of arthropod parts so curious. I actually cleaned out the heater box when I
had the dash off about seven years ago, so I know it's not decades-old,
either.  It just occurred to me that if a quantity of bug parts can get in,
then so can dust, and maybe I could keep things a bit cleaner with some kind
of filter. Modern cars have cabin filters of some sort for this reason.

The challenge (such as it is) is putting filter media like foam or
fiberglass and getting it to stay in place, considering the force of air
that the air intake undergoes when at highway speeds. Also, something that
doesn't just become a water trap when driving in the rain. The Merc link
that Casey posted is in the right direction, I think.

It would need to be cleaned or replaced regularly, but pulling the front
grille is far easier than opening up the heater box, imho. Was also
wondering, if someone has done this, how much did it impact airflow?

-Jarrett

On Feb 19, 2014, at 10:39 AM, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@Q.COM> wrote:

> There should be a plastic mesh filter in place. About 2 x 18 inches, give
or take.
>
> Karl Wolz