Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

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Thom Fitzpatrick
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Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#1 Post by Thom Fitzpatrick »

I need to replace my heater cable, but I don't know which cable is correct. The setup I have now is actually two separate cables, which is what Stoddard shows for A cars. I'm not sure if the cables are wrong or if the heater control assembly is wrong. At the business end of the heater control, there is a single hole, and the cable ends are threaded through it and held with a cable clamp.
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1956 VW Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof Coupé
1957 VW 23-window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Unimog 411
1963 Mercedes Unimog 404
1965 Jaguar E-Type
2003 BMW M3

Brad Ripley
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#2 Post by Brad Ripley »

See photos below -- condensed from the early A Workshop Manual and photo added.

You need two cables and two clamping sleeves. The cables currently supplied (NLA-24-415) will be too long for the T-1 so you'll have to cut to length so the whole systems works correctly. The sleeves can be found at Home Depot or Ace Hardware.
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HeaterCable Instructions 1.jpg
HeaterCable Instructions 2.jpg

Thom Fitzpatrick
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#3 Post by Thom Fitzpatrick »

Thanks!
1956 VW Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof Coupé
1957 VW 23-window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Unimog 411
1963 Mercedes Unimog 404
1965 Jaguar E-Type
2003 BMW M3

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Ronald Sieber
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#4 Post by Ronald Sieber »

Brad:

Referring to your discussion of the cables, you mentioned "clamping sleeves" for which a substitute could be obtained at H-D or Ace Hardware. Is there a Porsche part number for this?

Is it a small diameter rubber tube, which appears to encapsulate the cable in the first diagram? Is it by any chance the part that is obliquely angled at the bottom of the second illustration? I'm confused as to what it looks like.

Thanks,
=rdsieber

Hugo Karasawa
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#5 Post by Hugo Karasawa »

You can find those sleeves (nicopress) at McMaster-Carr, sizes starting at 1/32.
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nicopress.jpg

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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#6 Post by Hugo Karasawa »

Here some sizes of the sleeves.
The large one is for a 3/32 cable, the smallest for a 1mm wire. The two small ones are sold at fishing/tackle stores.
But there is a catch, to properly crimp those you need special tools.
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nicopress.JPG
nicotool.jpg

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Wes Bender
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#7 Post by Wes Bender »

For the smaller sizes where the sleeve doesn't carry much strain you can use vice grips to crimp it. That would probably work for the heater cables.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

Hugo Karasawa
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#8 Post by Hugo Karasawa »

Also for the small sizes you can use a crimp tool for electric connectors.

Brad Ripley
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#9 Post by Brad Ripley »

The cable used in T-2 cars, NLA-24-415, is 1701 mm long. Since the heater knob in a T-2 car is further away from the engine then in T-1 cars, the cable can be cut off and used in either model.

I believe Thom started out talking about cables in an early Pre-A car. The cables for those early models can be instructed from the VW reference below. For later Pre-A and T-1, then the below discussion applies. Chassis numbers are listed in the 356A parts catalog.

At the moment the cables are on order from Germany; delivery may be another 30 days. If you have immediate need, you may consider sourcing the VW 211-711-629-B. That cable is one piece, looped over. Cut it into two 1700 lengths.

The crimp sleeve was Porsche number 356-24-418. The sources mentioned above will do fine. But in a "must have" on Sat afternoon, you'll find them at your local Ace, Lowes or Home Depot.

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Jim Liberty
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#10 Post by Jim Liberty »

You guys that follow the factory cable (Wire) crimping are a lot better than I. I use the pinch part that is used on the hood and trunk pulls. ................Jim.
Jim Liberty

Hugo Karasawa
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Re: Correct heater cable for 356A T1?

#11 Post by Hugo Karasawa »

Jim,
Your solution is much better, if for any reason you need to adjust the cable/wire you can do it. With the sleeves it is not possible

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