VW Beetle TDI Kammback

[SwamiSalami]

...one thing that really improves efficiency on a beetle is a good dash cover.

[bnmorgan]

Originally Posted by SwamiSalami

...one thing that really improves efficiency on a beetle is a good dash cover.

I don't know about efficiency, but it sure would help with glare on that monster front porch of a dash. Would love to cover it with solar panels and do something useful, but can't think what it'd be.

[SwamiSalami]

Originally Posted by bnmorgan

I don't know about efficiency, but it sure would help with glare on that monster front porch of a dash. Would love to cover it with solar panels and do something useful, but can't think what it'd be.

Well, in terms of efficiency, I was referring to the A/C's cooling ability. That dash gets absolutely hot as hell and does little for the the coolness of the cabin. I know most don't even use the A/C, but in terms of keeping the cabin cool, it's still relevant, because it's likely that the black dash will send cabin temperatures well above that of ambient temps.

my solution was to get air duct insulation, which is reflective on one side, not too thick and sticky, cover the smooth portions of the dash with this. THEN, i covered up the unsightly-ness of this with a custom new beetle dash cover from Dashmat. yes, there was still a massive glare, but you get used to it, just like the original glare issue. this really improved the feel of the cabin, plus it looked a lot better and made it a lot quieter, too!

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by big shafe

Any more recorded mileage done with this setup?

Originally Posted by SwamiSalami

nope, sold it.

Who the hell would buy an untested Kammback?

[SwamiSalami]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Who the hell would buy an untested Kammback?

i'm not sure what you mean in regards to "buy[ing]" or purchasing. perhaps i made a fleeting comment about producing the "device" and how neat it would be (because i don't have the car anymore, i'm completely unwilling to re-read what has already been said. mostly for the reason that my personal time (with the exception of me typing this) is almost always allotted for something i want to do, rather than what someone else thinks i should be doing). or maybe you're mistaking my thread for someone else's.

either way, it's interesting that you mention consumerism. because ultimately, we buy things that have been subject to insufficient testing measures each and every day in other aspects of our lives. because this is a community of like-minded appreciators of science, we hold each other to higher standards of methodology.

chiefly, i have admitted to the erroneous ways of my testing in my kammback project. however, i refuse to apologize for actually getting off my ass and doing something i think everyone here deems worth while. i will not be the subject of scrutiny or persecution continually, as it is not warranted. i also refuse to take down this thread, because i made a few mistakes here and there. i learned something from my experience and i'm under the impression that others have as well...if not, so be it. i've been reassured that others have at very least enjoyed my project in much the same way that i have. i have made the observation that the few scrutinous readers of my project have largely been those who've not attempted projects of their own, ambitious or otherwise.

[Fat Charlie]

Calm down, I was just laughing at that quick answer. I could just see a guy walking down the street carrying a Kammback that he had bought at a yard sale.

Did you actually sell the Kammback, or did you sell the Beetle?

[SwamiSalami]

the car, not the kammback. the kammback wasn't really cohesive enough to sell.

[bnmorgan]

Would love to see (unless i missed, link if so) plans or dimensions or somesuch so I can try to replicate it, if my wife will allow the monstrosity. I think it's time for the VGs to come off, since apparently keeping the air attached down to my license plate is a bad thing.....which they do according to the trails left by the combination of dust and dew/rain