How I winter proofed My engine bay... and it works....

[68autobug]

after spending many hours during the summer to cool My engine bay down..

Winter came along with a completly New problem..

My engine bay was Now too cold for the winter temperatures..

so, I have closed My engine lid..
moved the oil cooler from on top of the fan housing
to under the RHS of the engine bay
I have replaced the nice louvered chromed air cleaner
to a Genuine VW oil bath air cleaner
complete with pre heating hose to warm the air going to the carburetor
I have also added an electric blanket to the inlet manifold
under the carburetor to keep it from freezing up...

so, Now my engine bay looks "more" normal   

I don't need to use the choke..
the engine starts first time every time...

and idles perfectly...

Now this will do fine until the summer arrives again.....

LEE


http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

[68autobug]

H  =  inlet manifold heater [electric blanket]
HA = Hot air from the under the engine tinware in sucked into the air cleaner
and carburetor to stop any icing up

the VW oil bath air cleaner is known to work very well

Now My engine bay is ready for a cold winter...

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

[Bookwus]

Hiya Lee,

Hmmmmm..............I think you need to paint that air cleaner.

How cold does it get in Scone?  I'm thinking it needs to be pretty cold to do the manifold warmer thing.  Up here in the States those things are practically non-existent south of the USA-Canada border. 

[68autobug]

Hi Mike,
it gets to around 32F 0C in the early mornings and goes to around 40F
when the Sun goes down at 5pm but even during the day the air is cold..
Real reason I have had to go this way Mike,
is that My heat riser pipes have blocked up...
so I really need to replace the inlet manifold..

LEE

[68autobug]

Well, I have bought another single port inlet manifold in great condition
I just have to have the vacuum port fitted and I'll install it..
and paint it.... naturally...  metallic silver - High temp paint
then My cold weather woes will disappear forever

I have My engine cover vents covered with Race tape at the moment..
the good quality tape was silver both sides
the cheap stuff was white on the sticky side and silver on the outside..

and Now I believe I should have had the 1968 original engine cover [without vents]
painted with the car..
then i'd have a winter and a summer engine cover -lid..   lol..

although I have never had any problems
with the rain , even with the engine cover stand offs..

but I do admit.. its better when your engine doesn't get wet at all...

Lee

[68autobug]

Well,
Summer has been here and is on the way out....
and I didn't change anything on My beetle ,
which I usually do, for the hot weather..
I haven't opened the top of my engine lid at all
since last summer...

I must admit that i haven't driven any long trips
during the HOT weather...
and most of the time , its nice and cool at night...

I've even used the heater a few times.. lol

cheers

LEE