[T3] Heat Exchanger Straps

[Jim Adney]

I'm sure that some of you have noticed that our lower heat exchangers 
originally came with some sort of heavy insulation around them, and 2 steel 
"shields" under each one that prevented damage to the insulation. All that 
stuff was held in place by 4 straps that wrapped around each heat 
exchanger.

The OE straps are glavanized steel. They eventually rust away and fall off. 
When this happens, the steel shields can fall off and get lost, and the 
insulation will start to fall apart. The straps are held by a special kind of 
buckle that is much sturdier than the straps, so they can be reused, as long 
as you still have them.

Long ago, I sheared a bunch of replacement straps from stainless and Ti 
scrap where I worked, into strips that I could use to replace the rusted steel 
straps. I was careful to save and reuse the OE buckles whenever I could. 
They are a bit thicker than the OE stuff, so they are quite durable, as well as 
non-rusting.

I'd like to know if any of you are interested in some replacements. If there's 
only a little interest, I can sell what I've got and that will be it. If there's more 
interest, I can buy new buckles and get a sheet metal shop to make me more 
stainless strips.

Let me know if you're interested. I don't expect this to be expensive. In the 
past, I've sold the straps for a couple bucks each.

The rubber bellows on each side of the fan housing, that duct air to the rear 
heat exchangers, used clamps at each end, of the same design but smaller. I 
could get those parts, too. So also let me know if you're interested in those.

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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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