Bongo Fury

Just picked up a D2 Airtronic from eBay and after some head scratching looking at all the wires, I got it working out of the van. So far so good,but where to install it in the Bongo, and a few other questions....

Having searched the archives, most seem to put their under the passenger seat, but as I use the Bongo with an awning I would need to route the exhaust to the drivers side or would it be best just to install there instead?

Heater outlet: I was thinking of routing to the rear heater grille but I see the centre of the rear transmission bulkhead seems popular, would this work ok given my rear seats are reversed?

Is a silencer needed? It seemed reasonably quiet out of the Bongo without so I'm hoping tucked underneath without one that it should be ok. I've seen there are both inlet and exhaust silencers available?

Fuel T piece: What size do I need and where to obtain? Eberspacher pipe is very narrow c2mm so unsure how to tap into the Bongo fuel supply.

Any installation tips appreciated. Thanks

My Webasto Airtop (almost identical to the Eber) is under the passenger's seat.

I have added an additional lift pipe into the tank, which is shorter than the original / main one. My thinking was that the heater can't then run the tank dry. In practice, I'd just 'T' into the fuel feed line as the heater uses so little fuel it's a non-issue.

I have the exhaust run all the way to the driver's side front wheel for the same reasons you mention. No problem with it.

As for the noise - you can hear it, but it's not a big issue. A silencer would help, but I can't say by how much. I've not felt the need to rush out and buy one.

With a reversed seat, you might be better running the ducting to the side step area. An issue with the central duct as I have is that you get an increase in engine noise when driving along. Annoying at first, but I'm used to it now.

Here's some pics of my install:

Clicky for more pics.

Dave, I used to work for a company which made ducting, it looks as if you have used quite a large diameter piece, and it is possible it is touching the engine ducting, so passing resonance into the cabin. (Engines move around a lot when in motion).

Also, if the ducting were smaller, it would be possible to use a fibreglass wrap and a mylar sleeve to insulate a bit against noise ingress and heat loss - look for BS476 approval for fire retardency.

I used an 8mm T with a 6mm T off for the fuel supply. Just cut the Bongo pipe to the fuel pump, shortened about 50mm and put the pipe back on.
Mine cam with piece of rubber piping which fitted the Eberspacher pipe and I used a dril to make it fit the 6mm T. Works fine.

Some heaters have a 75mm outlet and some a 60mm. Looks like Daves got the bigger one.
The smaller duct should fit easier.

The Webasto in our old Freda was definitely quieter than the Eberspacher we have now. Fitting a silencer has helped but not made that much difference.

fitting a d2 is a doddle if you follow the fitting guide on the tinternet,there are some specific do's and dont's. make sure your combustion air in and out pipes fall away from the unit incase the unit floods with fuel (fire risk).if your cutting into the fuel line make sure the T piece faces down. there are loads of tips/regs on the eberspacher site. deffo needs a silencer,but just how good they are i dont know.

How about our brand new fact sheet, cunningly entitled "Eberspacher"?

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/news.htm

munroman - Yes, I have used some oversized ducting. The correct 60mm stuff was looking expensive at the time, so I managed to get some on eBay which is a wee bit too big (90mm IIRC), and crush it down tight with tywraps.

It does allow the engine sound to transfer up into the cabin - I think the inlet piping from the turbo is touching it in many places. It's probably not resonance as this stuff is really soft and flexible. Replacing it with 'right' stuff is on my round tuit list.

Ideally, I'd move the rheostat to the central pillar above the worktop, and the air vent to the side step area. And then replace the passenger's carpet for an unmolested one.

Hi Dave, though the ducting is soft and flexible, (its basically a Kit Kat wrapper with some scrim through it!), if it is touching the turbo hose at all the resonance will travel along the wire helix, so vibration will be transferred into the bodywork via the outlet nozzle, and also into the airstream.

(I did a lot of acoustic work both in automotive and domestic appliance products , and it was amazing how sound propagates along rigid structures.)

I am sure if you used the 60mm hose and got more clearance, some of your noise issues would go away.

(We used to get many visitors to the factory looking for tumble dryer hose. The women would bring a sample and say it was about 4", which it was. The guys would sometimes bring a sample, but ask for an 8" hose. I wonder why........)