Re: Heater Hoses

[stans4@ix.netcom.com (Stan Schaefer)]

As I've mentioned in a previous post, you can substitute 2 3/8" ID
flex exhaust pipe for the heater box to body tubes, comes in
galvanized or stainless.  Galvanized was available from the local
parts places, had to order the stainless stuff from J.C Whitney.  Not
a drop-in install, you have to cut the stuff to length and snake it in
there, very stifff, unlike the OEM stuff.  

I take it you're missing all the heater hardware, hope you're not
running around without those fan outlets capped or ducted, can lose a
lot of cooling air that way.  My '71 had a kludged-up mess back there,
only had spiral cloth tubes between fan outlet and heater box, no
elbow or anything.  Had to get a lot of parts from wrecks and make up
my own joints.  Was able to get some really large rubber tubing from
another parts place, cut to about 3" lengths, it serves as seals for
elbow to fan housing joints.  I was able to get some pieces for the
heater box to elbow connection from a local VW outfit, still had to do
a lot of fabrication to get it all to fit.  Now have a really solid
job, all metal. If you can find the prober size tubing, a local
exhaust system installer might be able bend some short 90s for you,
you'd still have to cut, fit and come up with some way to clamp it to
the heater box.  Haven't tried it, but that flex tubing might be the
way to go for that. I share your misgivings about plastic tubing, gets
really hot in there. 


On Mon, 27 Oct 1997 20:07:13 -0500 (EST), you wrote:

>Hi Gang,
>
>First, thank you to all who responded to my distributor questions - Dudley is
>running like a top now!!! :)
>
>Next question:
>Where can I get the hoses/elbows/whatever that connect the fan housing to the
>heat exchangers and the hoses from the exchangers to the body??  The car came
>to me with quite a cob-job in place, and I'd like to have some quality heat
>soon.  Sorry Heaterman, I can't afford a gas heater right now.  Local parts
>stores and the many parts catalogues I have do not list them.  I'm afraid to
>use the readily available plastic air intake hoses for fear of melting and
>subsequent fire.  I assume that the hose diameters are universal for T3's -
>mine seems to need 2.5in hoses and beetle hoses don't measure up.  HELP! 
>Thanks again.
>
>Mike (I really installed an engine and it runs) Kasold
>'67 squareback "Dudley" 
>