A Webasto alternative....
 

Webastos new are really pricey, 3K with installation....the last time I took a look. Vintage units scare me.

The cheap SOBs on the 914 list have found this...... Westy Ventures / Propex heaters

with installed pics, here.....
914World.com - A Porsche 914 Community / Forum / Club

Runs on propane.....the tank he used is a little bigger than what I like. I assume small hand held cylinders can be used. $700ish is a good alternative.

Wonder if the short chubby tanks could be brought into the passenger cabin and changed out on the run (assuming this is safe).

I'm sure there's many ways to do this.....too bad it's too big to mount in the smugglers box. I'd love to see the schematics and/or the idiot book on it.

I fitted an Eberspächer gas heater. They're pricey too, but you can get good ones on ebay for about 500USD, parts are still available and they are bulletproof:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/911-930-turbo-super-charging-forum/566192-gas-heater-installation.html

Please tell me it's safe to actually use a propane tank in a car...

I dread carting a BBQ propane tank back and forth from the service station to swap it for full one. :(

Is this concerning the Eberspächer or do I missunderstood?

However, my heater burns fuel which you get from a t-piece at the fuel supply on fuel tank. It' save and as far I know, there was not one issue reported within the last 20 years...

I know the (your) Eberspächer is like a Webasto that burns gasoline to make heat.

What I'm concerned about is propane gas compressed in a tank... Somehow I can't help but feel it's unsafe.
Then again we drive around with tanks full of highly inflammable gasoline. :rolleyes: I must be an old fuddy duddy.

So... What's other alternatives? Reverse cycle air conditioning? Electric fan/heat?

Emigration to South Australia :)

It gets cold here some mornings. ;)

A pro driver who lives in Melbourne uses two 12 volt hair driers to clear his windscreen.
They're zip tied under the front cowling and ducted to the vents with tape and plastic tubes. Seems to work well but that's a race car.

I would not see an issue with propane in a car, just secure it well. Many cars are setup to run off propane and have MUCH larger tanks.

Kirk

I actually consider propane to be safer than gasoline. The auto-ignition (where it decides to lite itself on fire - e.g. landing on a very hot surface, etc) is around 425 for gasoline versus over 1,000 degrees for propane. It's in the same general area of flammability (point where you can deliberately set it afire) as gasoline but much, much less flammable than, say acetylene.

Propane is used to heat camping trailers with great safety. This is definately worth considering in my humble opinion.

angela

But in real world not movies, fuel will only burn while propane will explode. There was an accident this summer not far from my home with an propane can of a camping cooker, everything within about 50 meters was heavy destroyed

We are working with an engineering company on duct fan/heaters that will allow plug and play installation. All i can say for now till the testing is completed. But if we can make it work, we can all install headers in our air cooled cars, equipped with headers

Hope to have results sometime early next year

Yet another product from TRE that I am very interested in purchasing! SmileWavy




Okay, so is it a crazy idea to use a portable indoor/outdoor propane heater (like the one pictured below) in the cabin of a 914 to take the edge off?

http://www.tooltopia.com/_img/MRH/MRHMH4B.jpg

With the windows open .... it should be fine but you have an open flame there. :(

It actually says that it is flameless heating for indoor/outdoor. It is commonly used in tents and campers, so I don't know why it would not be good for a car.

When I get a little chilly in my I just turn the little climate control dial to the warmer side.

Whenever I get a little warm in the summer I press the snowflake button and the cabin is quickly cooled by the completely factory AC system.

I don't see what the problem is. Oh yeah, that's right, I have a 944 ;)

Burning propane flameless...:confused:

I would not feel good knowing some flame inside the cab. Further it needs oxygen and produces CO2. Then you can also guide the exhaust into cab, will heat too:D

I guess there is one good thing about living in chi town and that is storing the car for the winter and not having to deal with heat. :)

Coleman claims to have a flameless unit for tents.

http://bestcampinggenerators.biz/wp-...ER_01_hzix.jpg