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The 1957 Dope Dauphine
- Thread starter Adey
- Start date
Steve Swan
Well-Known Member
That was lucky! One of the shortcomings of the C1J block is no core plugs. I always prefer to use Bluecol antifreeze about 40% concentration. When racing the 8 it gave me an engine that ran about 4 degrees cooler than other premium brand ethelyne glycols. Not all coolants are the same.
The Dope is now heated 
. I purchased a Chinese special 12v diesel night heater which gets great reviews and looks to be a knock off of some expensive kit the van camping crew like to fit. I've not had heating in there since getting it and finding/refitting the original stuff would be a ballache and be pretty shit by todays standards. So I mounted the night heater in under the bonnet and piped it into the original heater intake on the car. Work absolutely amazingly and even has a remote fob for pre warming the car. I was pointed in its direction by a few classic vw guys who use them in a similar fashion. Not gone balls out testing it yet but have had it sat running for a few hours now keeping the inside at 20c. Not the quietest thing around but ill not notice it with the engine running and driving around. Excuse the wiring, this needs revisiting with some conduit, crimps and clips 
. I purchased a Chinese special 12v diesel night heater which gets great reviews and looks to be a knock off of some expensive kit the van camping crew like to fit. I've not had heating in there since getting it and finding/refitting the original stuff would be a ballache and be pretty shit by todays standards. So I mounted the night heater in under the bonnet and piped it into the original heater intake on the car. Work absolutely amazingly and even has a remote fob for pre warming the car. I was pointed in its direction by a few classic vw guys who use them in a similar fashion. Not gone balls out testing it yet but have had it sat running for a few hours now keeping the inside at 20c. Not the quietest thing around but ill not notice it with the engine running and driving around. Excuse the wiring, this needs revisiting with some conduit, crimps and clips 
Yep genuine fake CF. They come in different colours, that was just the cheapest
Turns out the original pipework was never designed to take the heat this thing pumps out and it tried to return to its original form. The black plastic bit was originally a 3 x 3 inch plastic square tube. Wondered why it wasn't getting very warm in there this morning.... replaced with some of the pipe work that was sent with the heater so it should be fine. Gets super toastie in there now!
I bagged it for £79.99 delivered from e of bay, if it fails in the next 12 months ill take it up through them. Was a UK supplier and here in about 3 days. I've since spoke with a fair few that have them in car transport trailers/camping when at races and one chap who has one in a landy. They are a copy of a wabasto unit it looks like. So say they run on 10ml per KW an hour. I dropped 5ltrs in there and not noticed the level drop yet though im heating a very small space.
This is what someone else measured on the Chinese version.
Vehicle:
6.3M LWB High-Top Panel Van Conversion. Windows all around (single glazed and uncovered); Lower panels insulated.
Start of Test:
Internal Living Area Temp: 2.3C
Battery Voltage: 12.41V (prior to heater ON)
End of Test:
Internal Living Area Temp: 21.5C
Battery Voltage: 12.37V (after heater OFF)
Results:
Test Duration: 3Hrs 23Mins
Total Power Consumption: 83.9Wh / 6.86Ah
Total Fuel Consumption: 0.75L
though im heating a very small space.This is what someone else measured on the Chinese version.
Vehicle:
6.3M LWB High-Top Panel Van Conversion. Windows all around (single glazed and uncovered); Lower panels insulated.
Start of Test:
Internal Living Area Temp: 2.3C
Battery Voltage: 12.41V (prior to heater ON)
End of Test:
Internal Living Area Temp: 21.5C
Battery Voltage: 12.37V (after heater OFF)
Results:
Test Duration: 3Hrs 23Mins
Total Power Consumption: 83.9Wh / 6.86Ah
Total Fuel Consumption: 0.75L
Last edited:
DaveL485
Staff member
Thats not too bad at all is it.
I'm guessing I should be closer to half that with the tiny space I'm heating when in use
Heaters arnt just for winter you muppet, infact id say you have the car heater on in most cars 90% of the time in the UK. Ill move it when I have somewhere to go
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