In this post, we will demonstrate the process taken to complete a 1979 Volkswagen Super Beetle Heater Cable Installation.

In this post we show how we repaired the heater control cables in out 79 Volkswagen Super Beetle as well as the installation of aftermarket front kick panels that have provisions for speakers.

To solve the problem of the warn out heater cables we bent some brake lines to match the contours of the floor pans and routed the cables through them.  This worked very well, however we have some issues with the front vents.  The driver side is set up for cable control, but the passenger side is set up for manual control.  This means we need to find a new set of vents or at least a passenger side vent that is cable controlled.  We contacted Wolfsburg to see if they have the vents, but they informed us they have not carried them for 10 years.  They did give us a contact number for another VW place in Virginia that might have them.  Chuck’s had exactly what we needed.

Chuck’s Convertible

804-784-5688

This is the cable controlled front left heater vent.

This is the manually controlled vent on the right side that needs replaced.  Ideally we would like to replace both of them so they have new flaps, but if we can only get the right side that will work also.

This is the heater cable ran through the brake line.  We just hand formed the brake line and secured it to the floor with some insulated clamps.  The sound deadner and the carpet  should cover the cables and the clamps.

To make the passenger side kick panel fit we had to make a cut in the lower right hand corner so that it would conform to the body.  In addition we added some heat with a heat gun to conform the plastic .  Finally we used some black interior sheet metal screws to secure the panels to the body.

The driver side kick panel.  Now that we have the heater cables and side vents are working and the speakers and kick panels mounted we are ready for the rest of the interior.