A while back I posted a query on the =
mailing
list:
031150 =
96/06/18
22:36 BN4 Heater in Vanagon - Is it possible?
Well I finally got the heater in and it works =
great. I
managed to exchange some work on the '73 Westy in return for the
heater. And what a deal that was. The combustion can was =
still gold,
ie no blueing (or rust!) so it was almost brand new! I set =
it up on
a board and tested it and it fired up immediately and produced quite a =
smoke
screen as 25 years of accumulated dust burned off.
So I mounted it outside, parallel with the axles, =
above the
transmission. I hung it from above (with the right orientation) =
using the
existing bracket with the two rubbers, and another I picked up from the
junker. I used 6 inch stainless hose clamps to secure it to the =
mounts,
and bolted the mount up through the rear floor just ahead of the engine
access. So it is rock solid but still uses the rubber vibration
isolators. I got a reducer down to 4 in pipe for the outlet and an =
elbow
from a heating supply and the mounting is that after the duct takes the =
90 from
the heater and passes through the firewall, a flexible duct runs along =
the
roadside side of the existing rear heater box. The bimetal heater =
regulator is
mounted in the flex pipe just before the outlet. I also mounted =
the
electronics from the heater to that space inside as well to allow access =
and
troubleshooting/reset. There is no access to the Heater once =
installed
without removal. The glow plug can only be gotten to though, with =
a lot of
twisting and swearing, but it is possible. The heater inlet uses =
the
original plastic duct and I cut through the firewall again for it. =
That
hole ends up in the middle between the heater box and the curbside wall. =
Exhaust
originally went out the roadside but have since moved it to the curbside =
due to
the pipe length issue and sooting. I plan on moving it back as I
understand a little more about the heater and adjusting the fuel to =
prevent
soot, and besides it really stinks every time one opens the sliding =
door.
I use a programmable thermostat for temp control. (great for those =
cold
Canadian winters when I can program it to heat the van just before the
commute!). I also installed a relay that will turn the heater OFF =
once the
van engine is started since there is the coolant heater then. I =
also
installed a deep cycle camper battery to power it, with the charging =
circuit as
per the Bentley book. The battery is currently under the =
rear seat
but I plan to move it to the back of the closet since that is not always =
used
space and vent it out to the roadside.
I've used it for a couple winter adventures and it =
kept the
van very comfortable. It was not an easy install but I think it has been =
really
worth it!
Cheers
Jim Thomasson
'85 Westy, Calgary
Canada