Getting inside the heater channels

Max Welton · Post by **Max Welton** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 10:35 am

I am thinking of buying a bug that probably has at least some rust started inside the heater channels. I have some pretty good images from the seller showing rusty pans (not a big problem) and at least some surface rust on the outside exterior of the rockers.

If the channels are still structurally sound, I would like to arrest the rust. Is there a way to clean the INSIDE of the channels and then seal that inside surface with, say, POR 15?

In2vws · Post by **In2vws** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 7:27 pm

Hi Max,
This probably isn't really what you're after, but you will most likely find a rotted out area you can access the insides the heater channels, or you can cut a hole and reweld it. I had substantial rust repair to do on my '57.
I taped a paint brush to a stick doped with POR 15, and coated them that way. You can see some pictures at
http://photo.starblvd.net/in2vws?st=album&pg=0

Hope this helps,
Mark Allred

Kubel Nick · Post by **Kubel Nick** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 7:42 pm

No real way I don't think without cutting it open. There's a tube inside the channel that's attached fron the vent of the windshields. It goes all the way back to where the heat tubes behind the front seats are located. So in a way tehre's actually 2 tubes that makes up the heater channel.

You can kind of see it on this pict. I POR-15 as much as I can then primered the rest since spray can travel in lots of palces a brush can't.

Also there's no real holes in the heater channel so if water gets in there's no place for the water to drain.