Gasoline Heaters, 914's and buses Options

[partwerks]

Wondering which would be more favorable, gas, or diesel?

I've thought of doing this. Diesel bunk heaters are cheap on craigslist, but you will need to add a small tank for fuel. Built to heat a whole truck bunk I bet they throw more heat than you need.

Like what section do you look for it under?

[orangecrate]

I installed an eberspacher diesel heater in a small tugboat wheelhouse years ago. Easily more cubic ft than a 914. It would bake you. I think the trick would be to get the right size diesel tank so that you only had to fill it up when you filled the car. I realize there are a lot of varibles but I'd go for overkill in cold weather.

[PanelBilly]

Not that it will defrost your windshield, but you can get an electric jacket or vest normally used for motorcycles and help fend off the cold

[partwerks]

I'm guessing here, but with different sizes, even the small compact one would most likely be plenty, but the size of the main body must be around 12" X 5" X 5"?

If the main body was mounted in the cowl area, then that leaves me to figure out where to dump the exhaust from that point, but was wondering if a person could dump it out on where the tubing for heat used to come up by the speaker grille, and force it out that way? Would probably be better to have the heat source as close to the cab as possible?

If I put it in the front trunk, I can dump the exhaust out the bottom of the front trunk where the radiator ventilates, but then have to find a way to plumb it up to the cowl area, and I don't really want to start cutting holes any more than I have to.

I'm wondering if it was mounted in the engine bay, if I could use the old pipes that the heat exchangers used to plumb the heat to the cab, but then might loose some heat the further it has to travel.

[lonewolfe]

Let's not forget seat heaters. I bought a set off eBay pretty cheap. That's what I'm doing first and for certain. I'm sure they were under $60 a pair and heated seats are awesome for a tired old back like mine.

[JimN73]

I see that the Webasto 2000 uses either gas or diesel. So, if you have carbs you already have a gas line from the tank that you can tap into. Either for a front or rear installation.

The engine compartment is pretty crowded, access to everything, including a heater, would be tough - but an installation in the rear trunk might work.

I have headers, so no heat. I put two 50 cfpm computer fans on each side of the car and pump air from the engine bay to the cabin, with pickup hoses near the center of the case. There is enough air flow to warm the car in town, but engine bay turbulence at higher speeds takes a lot of the warmth away. Should work fine with one of these heaters.

[euro911]

I see that the Webasto 2000 uses either gas or diesel. So, if you have carbs you already have a gas line from the tank that you can tap into. Either for a front or rear installation.

The engine compartment is pretty crowded, access to everything, including a heater, would be tough - but an installation in the rear trunk might work.

I have headers, so no heat. I put two 50 cfpm computer fans on each side of the car and pump air from the engine bay to the cabin, with pickup hoses near the center of the case. There is enough air flow to warm the car in town, but engine bay turbulence at higher speeds takes a lot of the warmth away. Should work fine with one of these heaters.

"Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly less dense than air. It is toxic to humans when encountered in concentrations above about 35 ppm."

I worry about carbon monoxide from the OEM air-cooled (or more appropriately air-heated) systems. I also hate the smell of the burning oil odor that comes from the engine compartment on any air-cooled VW or Porsche, and wonder just how much CO makes it into the cabin.

I think it would be wise to test, even with a battery-operated CO tester designed for home applications, just to see if it triggers the unit (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[partwerks]

Webasto made a unit specifically for the 914 ...

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-104-1268855767.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/bowlsby.net-179-1290276837.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/bowlsby.net-179-1290276838.2.jpg)

Are they available anywhere?

[GeorgeRud]

I certainly hope someone may actually see the gas heater in a 914 and not only the pictures posted above.

Before getting heat exchangers, I purchased an Eberspacher gas heater off eBay with the hope of installing it, but eventually the heat exchangers just seemed like less work. I do carry small battery powered CO detectors in my cars just to be safe. Private plane pilots also carry CO detectors for the same purpose.

[partwerks]

I certainly hope someone may actually see the gas heater in a 914 and not only the pictures posted above.

Before getting heat exchangers, I purchased an Eberspacher gas heater off eBay with the hope of installing it, but eventually the heat exchangers just seemed like less work. I do carry small battery powered CO detectors in my cars just to be safe. Private plane pilots also carry CO detectors for the same purpose.

Was it a gas or diesel, and do you still have it?

[GeorgeRud]

It's still sitting in my garage, but I haven't fired it up in a few years. It is a gas fired heater from an old VW I think.

[euro911]

I never fired the Webasto that was in my SWB 911. I was installed in the 'smuggler's box, so it was sort of isolated a bit more from the front trunk area. I removed it and plan to restore it, but not sure if I will actually use it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Curious, has anybody ever heard of or experienced first-hand any negative aspects of one of these gas-fired heaters?

[partwerks]

I wonder if this would be comparable to the Eberspacher BL1C?
http://www.heatso.com/eberspacher-airtroni...2kw-heater-kit/

Waiting to hear back from them, but was wondering what the VAT stands for?

[hcdmueller]

That is a British company, based in London. The value added tax (vat) is something around 20%, but we don't have to pay it since we are outside the EU. You may have to pay some customs fees for importing it.

[partwerks]

They are supposed to get back with me with a more cost effective gas burner that will be better suited for it, and no charges to USA.

[Jake Raby]

I love the modern Espar heaters.. I had one in my double cab and if I ever really start "driving" my 356 I'll install one in it as well. They fire up and have clean, instant heat.

The only time I have had one not burn completely clean was when using premium fuel on a really cold day, the heater can't light off the higher octane as well.

Its the only way to go for real heat, really fast.

[Alapone]

how difficult is the install of a modern heater? has anyone here published a step by step for modern heaters? I can find a few modern ones at reasonable prices (Eberspacher B4) what are the limitations or drawbacks of using these types in a 914?

A recent cold day drive has got me thinking this Is a must to squeeze an extra few months out of the driving season.

[Mark Henry]

how difficult is the install of a modern heater? has anyone here published a step by step for modern heaters? I can find a few modern ones at reasonable prices (Eberspacher B4) what are the limitations or drawbacks of using these types in a 914?

A recent cold day drive has got me thinking this Is a must to squeeze an extra few months out of the driving season.

I'd install it right in the engine bay or rear trunk and pipe it through the existing heater channels in the longs.
The tank can be either the front or rear trunk.

[bandjoey]

Drawback is cost. They're darn tootin expensive!

[horizontally-opposed]

Jake: Do post pics of the install.

So, four options for six conversions or sixes that lost their HEs:
1. No heat (where I'm at right now)
2. Heat exchangers, factory or aftermarket
3. Gas heater
4. Heated seats, heated vests (LOL!), hair dryers in the front trunk to defrost (LOL?)

I've got heating elements in my seats that need to be hooked up, but wonder about defrost—and my feet—on cold days.

One thing I never liked about my 914-4 SSIs was the heat bleed on hot days, even after installing new diverters. There was always at least some heat coming through. Not nice in a black vinyl interior. A gas heater or some sort of electric heat would negate that problem...not to mention the CO problem.

pete