Date:         Thu, 29 Aug 2002 15:05:41 -0500
Reply-To:     John Gladu <jgladu@BCM.TMC.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Gladu <jgladu@BCM.TMC.EDU>
Subject:      fuel tank crossover...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

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.