Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 19:09:55 -0600
Reply-To: Gary Shea <shea@GTSDESIGN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gary Shea <shea@GTSDESIGN.COM>
Subject: Re: fuel tank crossover...
In-Reply-To: <p0510032db9942b6d91f9@[192.168.1.102]>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
I went through the tank crossover and seals problem 4-5 years back on
my '81 Westy. Kinda funny, looks like VW didn't want to waste any
money on that crossover tubing... when it got old, it shrank, and it was
so 'perfectly' sized that it pulled the Y-fittings right out. Planned
obsolescence... errrr, more like planned self-destruct!
I found that with a bit of squirming I could reach the seals on both
sides, but couldn't get anywhere near the center where the crossover
tube goes through some kind of brace.
My solution was to not worry too much about doing a perfect replacement
job. I did replace the Y fittings, not sure if I got them from the
dealer or the junkyard, probably the latter. Got the seals from the
dealer. Found a proper size fuel-rated hose, cut it something like half
again or twice as long as the original crossover hose, and ran it any
old way across the top of the tank, around obstacles, whatever way I
could persuade it to go.
The van has been another 30-40K since then, it's never ever smelled like
leaking gas, and as far as I know there have been no downsides to my
unprofessional hack job.
Gary
[2002-08-29 15:05 -0500] John Gladu (jgladu@BCM.TMC.EDU) wrote:
> I've been searching the archives for a "how-to" on replacing the
> crossover tube on the top of the gas tank. A message from '97
> basically says 'just do it'. I understand the process - what I can't
> understand is how anyone with arms thicker than a spider-monkey's can
> get at these things.
>
> I have the car up on stands.
> The front wheels have been removed.
> I've taken the straps off the bottom of the gas tank and it is being
> held up with a padded floor jack.
> I cannot physically reach the places where the crossover tube inserts
> through the grommets into the top of the tank.
> Not from the front - when my bicep hits the rack-and-pinion, my hand
> still isn't close to the crossover.
> Not from the left - can't fit my arm through there anywhere.
> Not from the right - can't reach the left side, but I might be able
> to reach the right side.
> Not from the back - arm's not long enough.
> Bottom and top aren't options.
>
> Yes, I can remove the tank completely, but I don't know how I'm going
> to get that crossover reinstalled. Not on the left and not on the
> little clip screwed to the bottom of the floor.
>
> The yellowed plastic fitting on the left side that's supposed to look
> like a "Y" is broken. Don't know if it was broken before I started
> lowering the tank or not - couldn't get an angle on it to see before
> lowering.
>
> I don't want to go to all this effort just to break the replacement
> that I'm undoubtedly going to have to order.
>
> Does anyone have a copy of Bentley where the photos showing which
> vent tubes are to be removed is worth anything? Mine is so dark that
> there are basically three numbers on a mostly-black square.
>
> Suggestions?
> --
>
> bcnu - Grungy (Houston, TX)
> '60 dddPanel '69 Bug '90 Vanagon '93 Eurovan '00 Audi A6 Avant
> grungy@mindless.com opinions are just that.obviously.
>
>
>
| 
