I am working on a 1969 beetle convertible. I have the chassis finished and am beginning work on the body. I have to replace the heater channels and the area of the fire wall where the front of the channels fit in. I bought the channels and fire wall from RMMW about a year ago. I was just fitting them up on the floor today and found that the very front of the channel is too large for the curve in the firewall. It looks like the flange where the flat front of the channel is welded to the channel is quite large and if I trimmed it, the channel might fit. To make it fit I would have to trim so much that I would be trimming off the spot welds. Anyone have any ideas about this. Appreciate it. Bernie
heater channels
Apr 28, 2004
1 Replies
I had very similar issues putting a new channel in my 68' hardtop. I think when you get aftermarket parts like this, you have to use your imagination a little bit to make em' fit. I found I could cut out some rotten stuff in the front, and then I had to cut out a box in the back so that the heater channel could extend past the back of the car by about 1/2 an inch. I could have cut back the heater channel itself, but that part of the rear of the car (behind the back tire) was shot anyway. So I cut out a plate, and welded it over the opening to the back of the heater channel, and then bondo'd the stump to death.
Don't feel bad if you have to slice and dice a bit. I think everyone ends up there.
Just wait until you go to bolt up the floor pan and find that the holes don't line up. ;-) I wasn't sure if I should blame Mexico, or Brazil for that one. Also, you can check out my web page with pictures of my heater channel replacement. Not sure if I have anything that might help you but worth a look.
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-Ray
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