Gas Heaters

I read somewhere that there are gas heaters for Porsche Replicas. I can't find where I read it. Anyone have any info??
Thanks Jay

Search here for Eberspacher. 30 year old VW ones like the BN2 or larger BN4 can be used (complete around $300 in the winter!) or new modern ones ($1200). The 411/412 and later T2 had the BA 4 and BA6 which are more complicated to install.

Oops! - couldn't edit to add pictures. The BN2 is about 4" in diameter and the BN4 is ~6".

I decided to go a slightly different route ... you'll soon be seeing me pumping deisel in my speedy!

No, not an engine change, but the Eber heater I got is a deisel unit. There are all kinds of the deisel units on Ebay.UK and they go for about half the price of a gas unit over here. I got one that was taken from a service vehicle and its the complete, compact unit so all of the workings are contained within one small package. (about 15 x 4 inches) Except the fuel pump and on/off.

These things just sip at the deisel so I calculate with the heater on full blast a gallon of deisel will last about 6 hours or more. I'll get a small fuel cell or tank and then I'm done.

I finally got mine BN-2 running and so far so good. But Im still a bit chicken to put it in the car.

Im missing all the pipe parts. used for the factory vw install If any of you have any drop a post.

Brian, I was also considering the diesel unit. Intended to run it on Kerosene which I can buy most anywhere in small containers. How much was yours $$?
angela

Used gas heater exhausts in decent conditon are near unobtainable. 2 guys advertize parts and rebuilt units on SAMBA - Marty in Denver CO and Ark Mirvis (The Heaterman) in Hopatcong NJ. Parts are $$$$! Suspect a custom exhaust shop would be best source to have one custom bent - maybe even in stainless steel or have it epoxy/powder coated. The exhaust tip end has a strange looking anti-flow back flap --- I'll take picture of one I have for a BN4 and post it for reference. I have seen the flex exhuast tubing used too but it always looks home done.

Angela, probably ended up being about $600 or so...less than half the price of new here. There's lots of different styles of these as you well know. Some are duel fuel (both gas or deisel) and there's different voltages too. Some have a lot of external electronics and some have all of that stuff self contained.

I got the Eberspacher D1LC Compact unit and its 12 v diesel heater with 1800 W output. (looks new!) Its not a large heater and nor does it put out a ton of heat but I really don't intend to drive the car on real cold days anyway...it should defrost the windows and keep me comfortable though. Plus being small with low output it just sips at the fuel...1 gallon of fuel should last at least 10 hours with heat full blast. There's only a positive and negative cable and the fuel line to hook up. Here's the specs...

http://www.espar.com/htm/Specs/D1LCspec.htm

I thought the diesel units might be a little safer too and diesel is a lot less volatile than gas.

They're on the Ebay.de site but most are the Webasto ThermoTop units that heat the collant. I found the Ebay.UK site to have quite a few deisel AirTop units ranging in price and size.

Brian

I know exactly the parts your talking about.I have the pictures and repair and service manuals loaded on my hard drive.

Looks like Im gona have to get some large muffer pipe a carve me up a set with the mig welder. I do wish i had spares to make by I need 2 kits One for me and one for a very insistant(friend?) oh well.

If anyone here in NC had a complete kit not installed to use as patterns I have had no replys at SB.com But i still have hope something will present itself for a look see and paper traceings are also welcome.

The elbow will be the the most time consumming part to duplicate. I dont like migging small peaces. BUT I can.

I could use ABS black pipe and fuse the peaces out of that stuff But would it take the heat? how a bout fiberglass just for the duct peaces would that hold up well?

Fiberglass would fine for the intake and hot air out pipes. Why not use the accordian/flexible dryer vent aluminium hose? You could cover with fiberglas cloth and resin to make a flange to mount to/thru "firewall" into the car.

The on-line manual for Eber diesel heater I got says not to use vehicle ducting and vents because they will not withstand the heat generated from the little heater. Ducting must be able to withstand a minimum of a constant 300 degree F heat. Have to check the specs on dryer vent but you would think its up there...I know I've burnt my fingers on alum dryer vent.

Exhaust must be at least 2 inches from any flamable material and must be ducted in such a way as to not be able to re-enter the car. Where do folks who have these installed have the exhaust venting? I'm afraid if I put it anywhere under the car it will be able to enter the inside if the heater's on and the vehicle standing still.

My little electric heater will be up for sale if anyone's interested. It about 4 or 5 inches in diameter, about 6 or 7 inches long, has a integrated fan, switch and relay. Looks like a mini gas heater only much shorter and only the air intake on one end and the hot air on the other. Needs about a 55 amp charging circuit though and puts out about 900 watts. Enough to defrost windows and take the bite off a chilly day down south but not enough to heat the interior on a cold day. This is not one of those plug into the lighter deals...you need to wire it directly to the battery and you need a 60 amp fuse in-line.

Brian

I may as well make it all in steel. Thats makes it harder to break.

But first Im contacting Scott at German Supply, and Marty to see what they might have. in spare parts.

Barry, I gave away 2 boxes of gas heater tubbing, vents, etc last Sept. Actually I gave away all my VW stuff...8 engines, two transaxles, 71 van, BN 4 heater and boxes of old heads, pistons, etc, etc, etc. I just got sick of having no room in my garage and I no longer felt like stripping the parts and selling them on Ebay.

My wife was happy. The guy's wife who took the stuff was with him ... she didn't look happy at all. Couple of weeks later the van was in the city dump.

Here are a few photos of my petrol heater install.

I used a modern webasto airtop 2000B unit (espar sell an equivilent) as the units are incredibly small.

I fitted the heater to the front bulkhead and ran the exhaust down to the front beam. I used a fibre glass shield on the exhaust and metallized shield on the base of my fuel tank (which isn't a standard tank and sits higher than a regular one).

Inside I used proper air heater Y pieces and insulated hose except for the outlets to the demisters where I used plastic waste fittings and high temperature silicon sealant.

All works great, even on long (>1 1/2 hr) winter cruises with the heater on constantly.

I do plan on adding an exhaust muffler and inlet snorkle as the heater is suprisingly noisy (sounds a bit like a tiny jet engine!) You don't hear it over the engine but it is disconcerting when it is running its cool down cycle parked up.

Simon

Oh now I'm REALLY intrigued... I know just the place where I could put that! Probably have to make due with an electric heater this year, but next winter. That's DEFINATELY on the too do list!
angela

Simon, your heater look almost identical to the Espar unit I got from the UK. It also looks like you have it mounted inside the car up under the dash and that its mounted on its side with the exhaust, inlet and fuel ports mounted, and going through, a vertical surface. Is that correct?

That's the way I wanted to install mine but the manual (below) on page 7 says it must be installed on a flat, horizontal surface. I then figured I'd look at making a simple L bracket that would attach to the verical surface and hold the heater up under the dash. The ports would then exit below the heater then out the bulkhead. But then the exhaust one has to be dealt with somehow as it can't touch combustibles.

http://www.espar.com/pdfs/D1LCc.pdf

Your method is much easier than what I figured I had to do but is this acceptable, and safe, to mount these things on their sides or am I reading your pictures incorrectly?

Brian

simon:

do you have another picture of you exhaust system? one looking straight up and not from behind?

Barry, what about adapting some of the tubing from newer Webasto or Eber heaters? They seem to be readily available in the UK...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Webasto-exhaust_W0QQitemZ250078364534QQihZ015QQcategoryZ15263QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here you go Angela...200 PS "Buy it Now". Be about $400 to you.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EBERSPACHER_W0QQitemZ290077881746QQihZ019QQcategoryZ36797QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I just got a email from Scott he has got plenty I will call in the morning while its snowing. He said he can fix me right up.

We are supose to get our first real snow fall here in NC. Bad news is I will have to go to work friday ,saterday. and sunday.

search this sight for under dash pics of "one of the ron's" (Canadian's) speedsters. He used
one of the new units and it comes with the ribbed/spiral style exhaust=easy to route.
If you have the cajones or real need, these old vw heaters had an optional electrical timer that
could be set to preheat your car for a warm early morn. ride.

I have heard complaines about the new eberspacher heaters cast aluminum combustion chambers that may crack and plastic cases that warp and look bad after a while .

I'll stick with the older stuff with a few updates.

Brian,

A downward position IS recommended to minimise burner wear (less important for diesel interestingly)....

Chesil (UK manufacturer) mount theirs sideways also, but behind the rear seat (they mount theirs "pointing up" with exhaust out to the side), and haven't had issues caused by this.

I figured the number of hours I'd run mine compared with a camper van/ truck cab overnight heating, I'd live with any extra burner wear caused...

Plus if i did make an extra bracket to mount as recommended i'd probably end up with a loop in the exhaust (to get it forward out of the passenger compartment) which then means drilling a hole in it and dealing with the condensate somehow...

The espar, of course, might behave differently.

Might be worth a shot:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=410263

He seems to offer additional parts and probably knows something about 'em.

Maybe?

Here's picture of the end of the gas heater exhaust (from VW Thing - front mounted heater) - assume its so air flow turbulance doesn't get forced back up into combustion chamber. The VW T2 Bus which had heater mounted in back in the engine compartment didn't have this feature.

If you go to my photos, about half way down the page, there are photos of the new heater kits, installed and also showing all the parts. Hope that helps.

Here's the reply from Eber___ on mounting the heater on the side:

Yes the D1LC can be mounted on it

I followed Ron's installation. With his and my Master Mechanic (brother-in-law) I have a great amount of HOT air which is great in columbus, ohio. I'll be a Carlisle for those interested.

Jordan, Lambros and I will be traveling through your area on Thursday night. We are planning on stopping just outside of Columbus and then continuing in to Carlisle Friday morning, if you want to connect up, email me at stevenorkathy@msn.com

Also on the heater subject Aircraft Spruce company sells heaters with rebuilt modern components and safety features used in all kinds of aircraft.