Early kerosene heater

nein14-6 · 03-08-2004, 04:30 AM

In the same car that I mentioned on my previous post, a 66 911, it has a kerosene heater still in tacked. I have the original bill of sale so I know it’s original to the car. Are these systems sought after by people restoring early cars?

kenrinc · 03-08-2004, 06:45 AM

Actually the original heaters were gasoline and not kerosene. They may infact burn kerosene but they are in fact "gasoline" heaters and listed in the manual as such. I've never had any intrest in having a bomb in the front of my car and I think most people agree hence the reason many ditch them and replace them with the optional blower. I'm sure there are concours guys out there looking for them.

Kenrinc-

unimog · 03-08-2004, 06:24 PM

I'm not up on if the 911 used the same heater, but the 356s used either an Eberspacher BN2 (earlier, on-off for heat), or Eberspacher BN4 (later, thermostatic adjustable heat). I'm pretty sure the 911 used a different brand that fit in the smuggler's box, perhaps Webasto, or a Jet----?.
Again, speaking for 356, they are not too popular, (I have a BN4 for my '59), as many say they are a bomb waiting to happen. I figure (at least in my case) a well maintained German quality product, should work fine, and be safe (hum...kind of like a 911), but the key word is well maintained. Plus at least in a 911-912, they are pretty contained in the smuggler's box, (engine compartment-BN2 or by spare tire-BN4, in the 356s). Parts are getting tougher to find, and most 'pull-outs' are in a pretty sorry state. If you are not interested in keeping it, I'm sure an early 911 or 912 guy would snap it up, as a must have accessory. I'd only use it, if it has been overhauled in recent history.

ttweed · ttweed's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by unimog
I'm pretty sure the 911 used a different brand that fit in the smuggler's box, perhaps Webasto, or a Jet----?.

Yes, my '67S still has the Webasto heater in the smuggler's box. I am not brave enough to turn it on, but it worked well in it's prime, the main advantage being instant heat, whereas the heat from the heat exchanger circuit has to wait a good long time for the air-cooled motor to heat up the exhaust tubing before yielding any real results in the cabin. For cold climates, it was a must in the old days.

TT

gregk1 · 03-09-2004, 05:28 AM

I also have the wabsto heater in my 66 911 It looks brand new the car has only 90k on it, I have had it running, once you have it lit it works well, the big problem is the timer is old and funke the way it works (the black box about 3"x5") it lets the glow plug get hot enough and then release the mist of fuel to light, if it doesn't light it just runs raw fuel out the pipe that exit's under the car (BOOM) I think it could, I have herd that they were made for airplanes in WW2

unimog · 03-09-2004, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gregk1
I think it could, I have heard that they were made for airplanes in WW2

Basically they are small jet engines, with no torque output. I worked on Chinooks (CH-47), and we had the same thing for a heater, just much larger, 200,000 btu! Military Unimogs also have the Eberspacher as a heater for the radio box van bodies, and as a heater to preheat the engine and battery box for cold weather operations (ala Russian front). In fact you can remove them from their containment housing and use them as a walk-around heater directing the hot exhaust on areas you want to warm up. They (gas heaters) seems to be real reliable on the Unimogs, but they are in a separate housing, so hot starts are much less of a problem.