Porting essentials

[Dogsoldier]

Ralph Nader would have had a go at VW if he could have. The Corvair and the VW share the same cabin heating system.

Through a series of ducts and flaps the engine cooling fan blows air over the cylinders and into the passenger compartment, so any oil or exhaust leaks end up gassing the occupants.
I owned several VW's and one Corvair so I'm familiar with this effect.

Been there, done that!

 

[cloakedvillain]

Not a great design. VW could have done better without much cost while still using the hot air from the engine. Draw cabin air through a duct that is in the path of the hot air. Sounds convoluted but some small tubes would do it. Like a radiator.

Same for the the ford pinto, it wasn't a unique problem, just a good example of a common problem. Every other car had similar problems with fuel going everywhere during a collision.

 

[robe]

Not a great design. VW could have done better without much cost while still using the hot air from the engine. Draw cabin air through a duct that is in the path of the hot air. Sounds convoluted but some small tubes would do it. Like a radiator.

Same for the the ford pinto, it wasn't a unique problem, just a good example of a common problem. Every other car had similar problems with fuel going everywhere during a collision.

Yes, a heat exchanger would have done the trick. VW's had terrible heaters, you had to drive it for miles before it would clear a little patch on the windshield. An ice scraper and squeegee were required for inside the car.

Did you ever have the pleasure of the gas heater that would blow hot air and the odd blue flame right at the passengers legs? They worked but unsettling with the cough of flame. A buddy would give me a ride to work at -45, it was the only car that would start.

I would love to have another Beetle for nostalgia's sake but a nice one is about ten times the price of when it was new. Not happening.