912 Euro Heat exchangers

[Spendo65]

Does any one know where to get or repair Euro heat exchangers for a '67 912 in Southern California. They are rusted out on the front and bottom. They are not horrible about a 1/2 dollar in size but all the way through. I was hoping I could get a metal fabricator to fix them. I believe the exaust pipes are fine. Finding new ones are few and far between and very expensive.. Any Ideas would be great.
thanks
Spendo65

[Jaems]

Unless your engine number is in the 8xxxxx. The US or international heater exchangers are the correct ones for the 7xxxxx engine numbers. Due to government regs, only the German and Swedish import cars had the Euro (so called) heat exchanges. That being said.

Generally you would replace the rusted or burn out heat exchangers. On the international type it would be the "J" tubes. This is because of escaping exhaust fumes entering the cabin.

Since OEM German type are no longer available and good used ones are extremely hard to find. To make sure that the ones being repaired are going to be in good working order. You can not just weld a patch over the holes. You will need to have them cut open to make sure that the pipes inside are not rusted out, if they are, they will need to be replace. It could be quite expensive to make sure that they are safe.

Since you are living in Southern California. You save a lot of money by replacing the heat exchangers with just the "J" tubes. You don't need a heater there anyway. If you want a heater, the international type might be the way to go.

[WFBowen]

Or, until you can convert to "U.S." type heater boxes, you can:
1. Seal one end of each exhaust pipe and run compressed air to check for leaks. If there is absolutely no exhaust entering the heater box, I don't see why you couldn't fabricate a metal patch and have someone weld or even rivet it on - the heater boxes themselves are really pretty basic devices.

Jaems:
I live at the beach in Southern Ca (usually the most mild winter weather in the area) and I certainly need a heater in my Porsches (we recently were in the high 30's at night/ high 40's daytime.) And don't forget the defrosting function - such as it is.

[Spendo65]

Thanks to both for getting back to me. The car has been in my family since its birth in Germany. Engine #is 836-995. Bought in germany in 67 then shipped back to So. Cal. My intentions are to keep the car in its original form. I am in the prosess of a complete restoration on this car. 44 years at the beach has not helped it at all. I will find a metal fabricator to do the patch work. That sounds like the way to go. J-pipes are good with no leaks. You guys must not know my wife... I have to have the heater working She gets cold any day of the year Other wise you are right I would just keep them disconnected.

Thanks again..
Spendo65

Remember that if you change to US type heat exchangers, you also have to replace the muffler to a US type. Apart from the additional costs I would prefer to keep it original and repair the original exchangers. With some welding experience and some patience it can be done.

Otto

[Gunzel]

Left side european heater box, left side, 616-211-021-01 says the tag

mike

[Spendo65]

That is very nice but I would want both sides and I know they are not cheep.. Not trying to get them for nothing but.. thinking it would be cheeper to repair and restore mine then buy new ones. I saw a pair in Italy on ebay brand new and he wanted $5700.00 for them.. ouch.

[Nostril Cheese]

Try calling TLG in the Valley. Im sure Tony or Marco will know someone who can do this for you. Hell, I could patch that up in no time if I still lived in the LA area.

[gregpucci]

Since you are in SoCal - go to the next Pomona Swapmeet or to the next GoodGuys Car Show and search for one of the local suppliers who deals in "Zinc Metallizing." It is a zinc coating process that uses a flame arc sprayer that spits fine droplets of molten zinc onto clean metal. The nice thing is - no matter that you have thin swiss cheese holes in your heat exchanger sheet metal - they can keep applying zinc until it builds up and fills and seals the holes. No ugly welds or replacement patches and it can be sanded and worked just like regular sheet metal. Several years ago I had rust holes on the bottom of a '53 VW door that I had repaired this way. No cutting, no welding and I only had the bottom half of the door soda blasted inside and out before I had it repaired. If I can find the guys business card I'll post it.

[Spendo65]

Cool thanks. I appreciate all the replys they are very helpfull. I was lost but obviously I'm not the only one who has had this problem.

[Gunzel]

Originally Posted by Spendo65

That is very nice but I would want both sides and I know they are not cheep.. Not trying to get them for nothing but.. thinking it would be cheeper to repair and restore mine then buy new ones. I saw a pair in Italy on ebay brand new and he wanted $5700.00 for them.. ouch.

Price on the heater box is $1800.00 for one, plus shipping, prefer a check, but if Pay Pal then + 3.2%.

Mike

[Tony V]

These can be found, on occasion, for reasonable money. Here's a set on the Samba:
TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - euro heat exchangers porsche 912 free shipping usa
Tony

[Spendo65]

Here are my Heat Exchangers Before.

I was not sure what to do. All of you pitched in with coments to help my decision.

[Spendo65]

I decided to go to go with my paint and body friend. He did a great job cutting and pasting the holes. The metal was so thin so they are a litttle chunky but he is going to try to smooth them out as much as he can. But he saved me Thousands by repairing them. No more holes was my major thing. For I am not showing this car as concourse. Not in my budget. I wish I had that kind of money. Who's going to look that close under the car anyway.

Don't apolpgize for the "poor quality". It's indeed very hard to weld this rusted thin sheet in a proper way with a standard mig-welder. Not perfect for the eye, but perfect from a functional point of view. Nothing wrong with that!

For my '65/'66 project I have more or less the same goal - at this moment I do the best I can do/afford. It will be a nice driver and that's what these cars are made for! If you ever see a set of heat exchangers for a nice price, you can buy and replace the old ones.

Otto

[Gunzel]

This item still for sale