Blake,

I did my front blower recently (master cylinder at the same time).  I
thought about doing the heater core (did the rear one 2 years ago when it
started smelling sweet) but I decided against replacing the front heater
core ($$)  Taking the dash out really wasn't all that bad. The toughest part
was breaking those welds, and now that I have those metal clips on it should
be a piece of cake (got to get through the silicone sealant too) to get it
apart when and if necessary.  By the way I replaced my foam seals on the
flaps in the blower assembly with some of the activated dharcoal prefilter
stuff that you find in a Honeywell HEPA air filter.  A couple of other list
members had suggested other possibilities (rubber roofing material, foam
weatherstripping for camper tops...)  I was tight for time and it was laying
around, so...  Seems to have worked fine.  I'll finalize my decision on it
in the winter.

-- Dan Erlandson
Flemington, NJ
> danoer1@eclipse.net

> From: "Blake C. Thornton" <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU>
> Reply-To: "Blake C. Thornton" <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU>
> Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 08:39:55 -0600
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Front blower
>
> OK, my front blower stopped working (I have an 84).  It is not the switch
> (darn it!) so I assume that it must be the blower.  I looked in the
> bentley and it seems I have to disassemble the whole heating unit to get
> at the blower.  So, my questions for those who have done it:
>
> 1.  Is this correct, do I need to take apart the dash and dig into the
> heating unit to get at the motor.  If so, what is involved (some sort of
> general idea would help me a lot).  How much time could I be looking at?
>
> 2.  While in there, should I replace anything else (like perhaps the
> heater core - is it worth replacing for fear it might fail later?)
>
> 3.  Any other ideas/hints?
>
> Thanks a ton in advance!
> Blake
> 84 Westy
> St Louis MO
>