Hi,
does anyone know what kind of material is the heater box made of? Specifically the upper section which holds the heater core. I have 1979 spider which has black plastic type box and it is cracked and I'm wondering if it is made of something nasty and should be taken care of. Not fun to blow for example asbestos or any other fibers inside cabin...
Heater box material
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jhh
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:13 am
- Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
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MattVAS
- Patron 2020
- Posts: 225
- Joined: Thu May 18, 2017 11:10 am
- Your car is a: 1976 Fiat Spider 124
Re: Heater box material
Well it is plastic thats for sure.
It could have the nasty stuff in it. You can get a tester at a local Home Depot or Lowe's.
It could have the nasty stuff in it. You can get a tester at a local Home Depot or Lowe's.
Matt Phillips
Vick Auto - Manager
http://www.vickauto.com
Stock parts or Performance parts we've got what you need.
Vick Auto - Manager
http://www.vickauto.com
Stock parts or Performance parts we've got what you need.
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spider2081
- Patron 2024
- Posts: 3015
- Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:45 pm
- Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
- Location: Wallingford,CT
Re: Heater box material
not sure of the material its made of but I repaired mine by gluing the crack with MEK. It melts the existing plastic material to itself.
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spidernut
- Posts: 1906
- Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:20 am
- Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider Automatic
- Location: Lincoln, CA
Re: Heater box material
Replace it. Some are bakelite and break pretty easily especially after 40+ years.
https://www.midwest-bayless.com/Fiat-12 ... ll-u8.aspx
$65 well spent.
https://www.midwest-bayless.com/Fiat-12 ... ll-u8.aspx
$65 well spent.
John G.
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)
1979 Spider (Owned since 2000)
1971 124 Sport Spider (Owned since 2017)
1977 Spider (Sold 2017)
1979 Spider (Disposed of in 2017)
1979 Spider (Sold 2015)
1980 Spider (Sold in 2013)
1981 Spider (Sold in 1985)
2017 Spider (Owned since 2019)
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jhh
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:13 am
- Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Re: Heater box material
It bothered me so much that I sent a sample piece to examination and they confirmed that it doesn't contain asbestos.
I haven't seen the report so I don't know exactly what those fibers are they mixed in the bakelite, but atleast not asbestos
I haven't seen the report so I don't know exactly what those fibers are they mixed in the bakelite, but atleast not asbestos
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DieselSpider
- Posts: 2130
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel
Re: Heater box material
It would be highly unlikely for a coolant based heater box to contain asbestos since if the coolant got hot enough to ignite in the heater box you'd likely be long dead already.
On an older Volkswagen with its gas fired heater or heat exchanger on the head or exhaust system then yes there could be asbestos in it since those areas are at combustible temperatures. The gas fired heaters in those mounted right underneath the fuel tank always gave me the Willies.
On an older Volkswagen with its gas fired heater or heat exchanger on the head or exhaust system then yes there could be asbestos in it since those areas are at combustible temperatures. The gas fired heaters in those mounted right underneath the fuel tank always gave me the Willies.
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jhh
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:13 am
- Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Re: Heater box material
Yes I knew it was unlikely but when you add bakelite + fibers in it + some heat + 1970s + paranoid owner, I wanted to be sure. But now I know and wanted to share the information.
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DieselSpider
- Posts: 2130
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel
Re: Heater box material
Most likely wood fiber in a hot water heater box. Yes under the hood and in electrical components it could have been asbestos.
There is a greater chance though (please don't freak out) that the handles on your pots and pans and knobs on your stove and oven are made of Bakelite using Asbestos fibers. If you smoke a vintage pipe made after 1910 there is a good chance that the stem is made with Bakelite using Asbestos fibers too along with most older electric home appliances many of which also had sheets of asbestos inside them including toasters and hair dryers. Some brake linings are still Asbestos Bakelite too.
There is a greater chance though (please don't freak out) that the handles on your pots and pans and knobs on your stove and oven are made of Bakelite using Asbestos fibers. If you smoke a vintage pipe made after 1910 there is a good chance that the stem is made with Bakelite using Asbestos fibers too along with most older electric home appliances many of which also had sheets of asbestos inside them including toasters and hair dryers. Some brake linings are still Asbestos Bakelite too.