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Should J tubes be the same length as heat exchangers?

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Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#872079
The reason I ask is that I'm converting an engine from a squareback to a beetle. It had heat exchangers on it, but I don't run heaters, so I bought some stainless J tubes, because the rest of the extractors are stainless.

Now, to me the extractors look like they might stick out too far to fit a beetle, so I might be getting some new extractors, and this thought has been heightened by the fact that today when I went to put the j tubes on, the don't reach the join by a good few cm.

I just would have thought the heat exchangers would have all been a standard length and that j tubes would be that same length.

Thanks
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#872089
yes
I would have thought they would all be the same length

or longer?? but not shorter??

You may have to fit flanges to them..
and bolt them to the extractors

Lee



Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#872139
Are they still the type 3 heaterboxes Craig?
Cos those are longer than beetle ones.

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#872143
Joel wrote:Are they still the type 3 heaterboxes Craig?
Cos those are longer than beetle ones.
Yes they are. Damn and bugger.

I had a sneaking suspicion that I would run in to problems.

I suspect that I'm up for a new set of extractors to fit under the valance.

More grovelling to the wife required.
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

Camo Custom Title Time!

1,936 posts · joined Oct 2007 ·

#872165
Not knowing exactly how they look/fit, but could Westi shorten them for you. Do a cut and shut on the exhaust, he did on mine.

Kev
I thought rebuilding a VW would be cheap - Shit I was wrong, just don't let the wife know !!!!

Click here for my (slowy) modded 1961 Beetle build.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#872166
cut them and get flanges welded on while you are at it
Futue te ipsum!!!

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#872168
Thanks guys, I was thinking that might be a solution to the problem, I then have to think about whether they end up being equal length or not.

I'll try and do some measurements and put up photos later.

Otherwise I'll add the extractors to the pile of part 3 cooling and tinware parts that I'll be selling shortly.
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#872176
Turns out I'm a bigger idiot than that anyway. Forgot to measure the pipe diameter. J tubes I bought are 38mm, extractors are 42mm. Duh!!!! 🤪 🤪 🤪

Back they go!
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita