The front heater of the Vanagon uses only outside air. That baffle not only
slows the air flow down it also makes the air travel through it long way to
get more contact time. The best heat is at lower fan speed settings. In fact
if you read the manual or note the little pics on that legend plate fan
speed 2 and all levers to the right is the choice for max defrosting action.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Cunegonde
Sent: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 2:01 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: WBX Front Heater Core Mystery Sheet Metal

This part doesn't appear in Bentley, unless it's a non-pictured part of the
heat exchanger itself.

Inside the heater box, sandwiched between the core and the blower manifold
openings, is a piece of sheet metal that doesn't quite cover the whole face
of the core . It has one row of small holes along one long side, and three
rows of holes along the other long side. It obviously blocks large debris,
but also restricts airflow to about 50% of the core.

What is it, and can I leave it out for greater heat exchange efficiency?