The aluminum heat sinks are cast around the exhaust header pipes. If you
run the Air Cooled engine without the alternator fan pushing cool air
across the cast heat sinks they melt down. Once they melt down they will
continue to melt farther as they hold heat better once they create the
puddles without the fresh air passing through them.
The insulation between the inner and outer shell is asbestos (OEM) later
replacements are a combination of fiberglass and other heat resistant
materials (like in brake pads).
If you need a pair of OEM VW heat exchangers I've got a good set and also
the ductwork to make sure that they are getting the fresh air flow
required.

Stan Wilder
83 Air Cooled Westfalia

On Mon, 24 Jun 2002 18:52:18 -0700 Mark Sheflo <skjeflo@ATTBI.COM>
writes:
> Finishing up a head replacement on my 82 and looking inside the
> heater
> boxes.  Question one, when looking at the fins inside the boxes I
> see what
> looks to me melted metal pooling on the bottom of the box.  Any
> ideas?
> Massive overheating and melting of the fins is my only idea, but I
> find it
> hard to believe that it could get that hot.  Question two, looking
> in the
> same heater box I see that it is lined between the inner and outer
> box is a
> fabric.  Asbestos?  This is a VW box of unknown heritage to me, not
> a Dansk.
> Ideas?
>
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
> 82 Westy
>

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