Stock Beetle Heater

[Chris913653]

So I just wanted to show people that a working stock heater can seriously warm up the cabin quite well when all is in working order.

[Danwvw]

The early beetles weren't so good. I used to look forward to climbing a hill because it was the only way I could get the Ice to melt off the inside of the windshield. But that was in Colorado.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[Chris913653]

[Danwvw]

There is a big difference in beetles too. The later ones 1971 and later were much better at heating. Those cars were so nice and tight all the door seals and window seals were good and with the bigger engine they were fine. I remember driving back from Denver one night in a 1973 bug there was a big snow storm there had to be at least 6 inches of snow stuck all around the windshield wipers but it was melting. But try that in an old 1960 bug and you would be stopping along side the interstate to get out and do some scraping. The snow would be melting and steam would be coming in through the heaters and fogging up the windshield on the inside. Had to carry a bath towel and keep a window open.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[itskyle]

In my 66,

In Indiana winters (some so harsh, reminiscent of the "what the guy drives to work who drives a snowplow" tv spots) I used to adjust idle speed faster.

I miss that 66, but I really miss the 74 more.

Kyle
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69 or 72 Autostick Bug current
66 Bug (We both miss it)
74 SuperBeetle Auto Stick (I miss that car)
73 SquareBack, Straight Stick (Wife misses this one.)

[Eric&Barb]

[Mos6502]

It's not so much the heat that's the problem, it's the air flow. Adding a blower to the system will improve the heating system a ton. The later beetles heat better not because they're better sealed from outside air, but actually for the completely opposite reason. The flow-through ventilation system means the car is less well sealed which allows the heater to push more warm air through the interior. "Old" air being pulled out through the vents means "new" air can come in from the heater faster.

[Eric&Barb]

As addressed in the 62 Owner's Manual, see next to last paragraph.

There was also an after market valve/vent that passed air thru the engine fire wall.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[Cali_Army_Guy]

The heater in my '66 works extremely well. After a few miles I have to actually turn it down a bit or it gets too hot.
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2015 VW Passat Wolfsburg Edition
1966 VW Beetle - Sold

[Brian]

[neil68]

Having cut my teeth as a new driver back in the late-70's with my first Beetle being a slightly used '74, followed by a few others, and more recently a nice '68 Beetle, I can vouch for how hot the cabin can get.

One Christmas we drove across the Canadian prairies from Calgary to Winnipeg (also known as "Winterpeg"). The temperatures were in the minus-35 C. range on this trip and the Beetle had a broken heater cable to one of the boxes, so we really only had half the stock heat output. I didn't realize this until the trip had started, but in the end it didn't really matter. Just one heater box was enough to create excellent cabin heat, such that once we were on the road for a while, we had to crack a window, as we were getting too toasty!

On another trip, we had a box of music cassettes in a carrying case, that was placed on the passenger side front floor, as we were packed with luggage, etc. When we arrived at the US border, the customs official asked us to remove some items...one being the mysterious box of cassettes. He must have been looking for drugs or other contraband. Anyway, upon opening the box, some of the cassette cases had melted from the hot air dispensed from the foot outlet.
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Neil.

Der Kleiner Rennwagens
68 Beetle 2332 cc, 204 WHP
12.5 seconds @ 107 mph
Dynojet Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9B_H3eklAo

[pernest]

I had a 73 beetle with a 1200 engine back in 1989 when we had a pretty cold Christmas in north Florida. It was 15 degrees on I10 north of Panama City and I never felt so cold --- the 1200 just was nowhere near effective.

I swapped the 1200 for a 1600 and from then on the heater worked fine. My current 73 Beetle (1600) heater works fine. However, on that 1989 frosty Florida trip even a blanket over my legs didn't help much. It does get cold in Florida!

[Mos6502]

[Chris913653]

Could also be the different fan shroud and/or maybe those scoops were missing on the inside to catch air and push it through the exchangers?

[pernest]

Just want to note that the 1200 was the quietest and smoothest VW engine of the two. Top speed of the 1200 with the 73 transmission was 75 __the 1600 near 90. If I were to acquire a 65 or earlier Beetle, I would certainly leave it stock with the 1200.

[Eric&Barb]

[Danwvw]

I have had a few busses that had louvered windows with a lot of air leaking everywhere, Sliding door, Front doors too. Heat can be working pretty darn good in them and just as you start to feel a little bit of warmth, turn a corner and the air inside the vehicle shifts and it's cold again.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[Old n' slow]

If you need more heat this winter you just might check to see what kind of heater boxes are on your 40-50 year old VW. I just went from my old aftermarket Dansk heater boxes to used O.E. German heater boxes.

What a difference !!

Next project is replacing the rotted paper tubes from the heater channels to the defroster.
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Currently own : 1969 Beetle w/ 1600cc, Single Port, Solex 30 PICT 2, Dist. 113 905 205 T, stock exhaust.
All my daily drivers gone but not forgotten;

1964(sunroof)1967 & (2)1968 Beetles , 1968 Squareback , 1963 (23 window )Deluxe Sunroof Bus , 1969 Westphalia camper, 1974 Dasher , 1985 Vanagon , (2) 1981 Rabbit Diesels & a 1991 Jetta Diesel .

[Eric&Barb]

[hotsam]