asbestos in black plastic heater mufflers - in beetles

[68autobug]

I have heard rumors of asbestos being in the black plastic heater mufflers
which are located above the rear axles, suppling heated air to inside the car..

well, I was just about to install My heater mufflers, when I thought I would investigate
and see if the rumors were true...

there are two round asbestos rings at each end, and another two which seem to hold the center piece
in place...

I then found that around the inside metal center piece is fiberglass, like what is used in motor cycle mufflers..

Now I don't want to be breathing asbestos or fiberglass...
so, I have replaced them with silver convoluted heater hose
which is painted red now...  lol...

I;'ve also found that the mufflers did actually work, and now I can hear mechanical noise from the engine
when the heater is switched on...\
I'm trying to think of a way to make a heater muffler that doesn't contain asbestos or fiberglass...

here are some pics...

Lee

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

Actually if you spend a bit of time looking around you can find specific replacements for those heater tubes.  The newer ones will not contain any asbestos.  Here's one listed by Wolfsburg West.............

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=113255355M  (notice that this is a 68 only part)

But I'm sure you can find other on-line vendors selling them also.

[68autobug]

actually Mike,
those are better than the originals
as the originals had a large hole at each end..
which didn't fit anything??
some sort of adaptors were used..

the 50mm fresh air hose I use, fits onto My heaterboxes and inside the plastic piece that goes inside the body..
neat fit...


If these are NOT used in other years??

what was used from 1969> on...

Lee

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

You might want to check out Wolfsburg West's heater tube index at.........

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/wolfsburg_new/fuelsystem/heater_tube.cfm

I'm not sure if that gives a definitive answer, but it will show what they have available for this sort of application.

[68autobug]

Those ones look similar to the originals
but not the same...

the noise that comes thru when using heater hose
is quite a pain.. and i'm deaf...
it would be unbearable with hearing aids..  lol..

and My Wife is always saying when We are in the car
"why haven't You got Your hearing aids in?"

maybe the originals would work OK even with the asbestos taken out??

Lee

[I haven't used the hearing aids for years..lol]

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

Well, I just replaced my original heater tubes also.

I bought two units that look identical to the one pictured here...........

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=113255355M

Interestingly, inside the tube you'll find fibreglass insulation held in place with a large diameter spring.  This would be OK for the insulation but I wasn't too happy about having the insulation material exposed to to the airway.  I've had to handle fibreglass insulation and it can be tough on your skin and your respiratory system.  So, I did a little creative engineering.........

I removed the tube spring and replaced it with the flex heater hose that comes off the fan shroud.  52 mm I think.  In any event it was a perfect fit.  I got the aluminum hose and stretched it from one end of the plastic tube to the other.  It fits the ends perfectly and seals the insulation out of the way.

For the life of me I can't figure out why the manufacturer wouldn't have used the heater flex hose in the first place.  It seals the airway and it would have been cheaper than that spring.

[68autobug]

OK Mike...

Yes the originals have fiberglass around the center too..
thats one of the reasons I haven't refitted them....

but have you used the new tubes with the aluminium inners yet?

I'll bet you will hear the engine noise thru them...
as You don't have a muffler in there now...
all i hear are mechanical noises like tappets etc...

but if You have good hearing, You may hear a lot more noise??

Lee

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

.....but if You have good hearing, You may hear a lot more noise??......

This cracks me up.  My wife would be howling at this if she were to read it.  I am deaf as a stone and I DO use hearing aids.

[68autobug]

Hiya Lee,

.....but if You have good hearing, You may hear a lot more noise??......

This cracks me up.  My wife would be howling at this if she were to read it.  I am deaf as a stone and I DO use hearing aids.

Do You turn the aids off when in Your beetle??

I'll have to put mine in next time I'm driving My beetle and see if I hear
anything else....   lol

LEE

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

......Do You turn the aids off when in Your beetle?........

I've got 'em in and on all the time.  The Bug is noisy, but I'm working on quieting it down right now.  It ought to be interesting to give it a "listen" after I finish up with this very long project.

[68autobug]

I should go and find Mine  [hearing aids]
not real sure where they are...  lol

My Wife hears noises in Our Mitsubishi at times
and I can't hear anything... lol

Lee

[Bookwus]

Ah, yes...............a nice "quiet" ride.  LOL