Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2001 14:03:15 -0400
Reply-To: Michael Nichols <msnichols@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Nichols <msnichols@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: Replacing the gas tank, the Bus Depot way....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
Hello from Atlanta, Ga. Yes, I recently replaced my tank with a nice shiny
new one from BusDepot. Replacing the tank is not that bad a job, but I did
scuff the black paint so I could give it a couple extra coats of spray
Rustoleum on the exterior----just for insurance. The hardest part in the
replacement procedure is getting the correct replacement rubber gaskets from
BusDepot in a timely manner. The new tank arrived within 8 days of date of
my order. After ordering the correct gasket at the same time as I ordered
the tank, I am still waiting (over 90 days!) for a corrected return for the
wrong sized one I was sent by mistake. My advice: Call your local VW
dealer and get the VW 15% club discount on the rubber gaskets you need. I
received the correct gasket in two days on a special order from Jim Ellis VW
here in Atlanta at one third less than the Bus Depot price. Oh yes, when
you order from the good folks at the Bus Depot, and they do have a great
price on the tank, they will give you a 5% discount if you tell them when
you are ordering that you are a Listmember. If you do not ask for the
discount, you will not receive it regardless of how many times you have
ordered from them. I will keep the missing BusDepot gasket if it ever
arrives as a spare.
Another note here: I attempted to reuse the old filler pipe gasket when
the new gasket did not arrive with the tank. You know, you want to get
your Vanagon on the road again, the new gasket part does not arrive as
expected, yadda yadda..... As I was sliding the filler pipe into the newly
almost-installed tank, I heard a "plunk" and the old gasket popped into the
tank. These are the times that try men's souls. Yes, I know, count to ten,
count my blessings, offer prayers for all parts vendors, take deep
breaths....
You do not need a lift to do the tank--you can use jack stands and raise the
car with the wheels on to get more clearance. I did have to use a hydraulic
jack to snug the new tank in place----I placed it on one of the two tank
brackets and it helped greatly to get the two bracket holder bolts started.
Do the fuel lines and all the grommets and check the gas gauge sender for
accuracy---this is the time to catch all those gremlins! Our on-line
vendors carry all these parts, as does the local VW dealership. I hope this
discourse helps you to do the gas tank replacement in a timely and
workmanlike manner....
Regards,
Michael Nichols
2--'81 air cooleds
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