replacing old heat exchangers
- Thread starter vvvw
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Bookwus
Well-known member
Hiya vv,
Most certainly! This is a reasonably common job.
But there are a few things to be aware of.....................
You will want to make sure that you are replacing your old heat exchangers with Bus heat exchangers, not Bug heat exchangers. They are different in that they connect to the heater control cables on opposite sides. If you can only find Bug heat exchangers you'll have to do some creative engineering to make the connections.
Aftermarket heat exchangers are not as well made as the originals. Matter of fact, were I offered a set of new aftermarket heat exchangers and a set of used (but in reasonably good condition) VW heat exchangers I'd always opt for the originals. They have a better (more heat dispersing fins) casting around the Jtube and generally line up better with the case than do the aftermarket parts.
Do not force those old exhaust nuts off (or on) the studs. After all that heating and cooling, expansion and contraction, rust, crud, and dirt the studs get brittle. Snapping them off is quite common. And that leads to a lot of hand-wringing and hair pulling. Best to stay away from that scene...........if possible. Soak those nuts and studs with a good penetrant for days before you start the job. Think about using heat on the nuts. Remember, if that stud breaks, you will have to get it out somehow.
Most certainly! This is a reasonably common job.
But there are a few things to be aware of.....................
You will want to make sure that you are replacing your old heat exchangers with Bus heat exchangers, not Bug heat exchangers. They are different in that they connect to the heater control cables on opposite sides. If you can only find Bug heat exchangers you'll have to do some creative engineering to make the connections.
Aftermarket heat exchangers are not as well made as the originals. Matter of fact, were I offered a set of new aftermarket heat exchangers and a set of used (but in reasonably good condition) VW heat exchangers I'd always opt for the originals. They have a better (more heat dispersing fins) casting around the Jtube and generally line up better with the case than do the aftermarket parts.
Do not force those old exhaust nuts off (or on) the studs. After all that heating and cooling, expansion and contraction, rust, crud, and dirt the studs get brittle. Snapping them off is quite common. And that leads to a lot of hand-wringing and hair pulling. Best to stay away from that scene...........if possible. Soak those nuts and studs with a good penetrant for days before you start the job. Think about using heat on the nuts. Remember, if that stud breaks, you will have to get it out somehow.
G
Guest
Guest
heres a good thread all about the differences. check the end of this thread. you can modify bug exchangers to work on your bus which should be cheaper.
http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10479&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
its keeping the original cores if they are good and reskinning them with new. tricky but can be done, but it shows the difference in original and repro.
ben also made a good point about modifying CT1600 from a T25 to fit, a much cheaper option.
http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10479&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
its keeping the original cores if they are good and reskinning them with new. tricky but can be done, but it shows the difference in original and repro.
ben also made a good point about modifying CT1600 from a T25 to fit, a much cheaper option.
