The plastic covered aluminum heater hoses that go from the heat exchangers in the motor to the heater channels in the body of my 2004 Vintage Speedster car are giving up the ghost after almost 19 years. They are basically disintegrating. Anyone know where I can find new replacements for them? Thank you and Happy New Year to all!
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Yes; mine is the silver one but it looks to be the same. I wonder what the diameter is and where I could find a replacement for it.
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The ad says 63mm diameter, which is about 2.5", which is what the hose off my heater boxes looks like. And the ad also says this is for stock VW heater boxes, so evidence is pointing towards this being the right stuff.
I guess you could call JBugs to confirm.
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The above hoses look like what is used between the fan shroud and heater box.
On my CMC I used the below hose. JBugs & others say it is for heater box to body. I had to shorten it.
I've used that (those) from fan shroud to heater box but used ones with insulation ($25 each) for heater boxes to heater stub stubs. There is more heat there and the insulation passes the heat on hotter plus decreases engine noise passed into car.
Here's what the OEM ones from donor car were like:
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At some point, VS changed the routing for heater hoses.
I think they originally used the 'body tubes', but found that lost a lot of heat and pressure. By 2013 they bypassed the body tubes and connected short lengths of the aluminized hose to the outlets of the heater boxes. That then connected to flexible rubber hose that in turn connected to long lengths of smooth PVC pipes tucked inside the rocker panels. That delivered better pressure and hotter air.
That's what my car has, but I don't know what's on Impala's car.
He said his 'plastic covered aluminum heater hoses' are shot, so I thought he might have the hose in the picture and link I posted above.
@Impala , some photos might help here.
My car is 2004 and it has silver aluminum with plastic flexible hoses but at this point they have been slipping from the tubes even with the clamps and just trying to straighten them they rip like paper. If the stock Beetle ones fit that would be the ticket.
On a few of the older CMC 's that had the short hose out of the exchanger aka heater box to the 1.5" chassis pip, I routed the heat direct from the exchanger to the vertical fiberglass area below the back seat. The result was super good heat. One another Speedster I routed to carpet area on the lower door jamb that roasted my left hip going down the road. Lastly, experimented with a 12V high Amp fork lift cab heater using a big alternator and a secondary deep cycle golf cart battery. it worked but don't know the long term result.
Both Mike and my car are CMCs. CIP2 also has silicon rubber wire reinforced hose. I used similar to connect under dash to defrost vents. (I didn't get from CIP/CSP so measure size you need)
I ordered the stock ones from CIP1 that Wolfgang showed us. Crossing my fingers that they fit.
@Impala posted:I ordered the stock ones from CIP1 that Wolfgang showed us. Crossing my fingers that they fit.
There's always PVC adapters at the local hardware store ...or car exhaust reducers.
Update: ordered the hoses from CIP1 as suggested (they got here from Canada in one day!). Of course they slipped right on the heater boxes; but the diameter of the tubes that come from the body of the car is smaller so what I did was to take an old leather belt and cut sections to line those ends of the hoses going to the body and they clamped right up and worked. They look great as compared to what was there. I forgot to take photos but I'll add them later. Thank you guys for your suggestions!
If you want some real heat, bypass the body and go directly into the channels leading to the heater and defroster outlets. Huge difference in airflow and heat. Downside is increased motor noise in the cabin. Add extensions to your curtains to fill the sleeves on the top and get a tie down for the top bow and you have a dry and warm car to drive in the rain. And you will not need a towel for mopping up water.
@majorkahuna posted:If you want some real heat, bypass the body and go directly into the channels leading to the heater and defroster outlets. Huge difference in airflow and heat. Downside is increased motor noise in the cabin. Add extensions to your curtains to fill the sleeves on the top and get a tie down for the top bow and you have a dry and warm car to drive in the rain. And you will not need a towel for mopping up water.
Car manufacturers are adding artificial noise into the cabins of cars these days just because the engines are so quiet. And it's not just EV makers that are doing it.
Reminds me a little of a veggie burger; trying to make something be what it’s not. The ultimate deception 🤣😂
I am really bothered by fake engine noises.
I am also bothered by fake exhaust tips so they always look clean. I was extremely disappointed to learn that the Lambo. Miura has fake exhaust tips. The reason with the Miura was to allow tipping up the rear of the body.
Dittos to Impala's & Michael McKelvey's posts.
