Date:         Thu, 17 May 2007 12:39:07 -0700
Reply-To:     Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fresh Water Tank Drain Cap - Non VW replacement source?
Comments: To: Pablo <franklinstower48@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To:  <373158.10229.qm@web38013.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Pablo -

I do have NOS (in the Westfalia Bag) Drain Caps.  Yes, they are expensive,
because what would cost next to nothing in China to make costs several
dollars/euros to get them from the original source in Germany.  I get $20
with postage for them as well.

You don't indicate what year you have (it would help).  Originally, 80-84
and 85-91 was the year periods.  The reason why Bus Depot, etc., say the
dividing year is 87 is they don't take into account that replacement tanks
for 80-84 are replaced with the 85-later tank that uses the later cap and so
this causes a great amount of confusion when trying to source to correct cap
(I've never run across an 85-87 that uses the earlier (larger) cap myself,
so I can only go by what others have said).  And I've never found an
aftermarket cap and you probably won't because the diameter and threads are
METRIC.

Best thing to do is measure the outside diameter of the drain outlet to
determine which cap it is.  The larger earlier one is 34mm I believe.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On 5/17/07, Pablo <franklinstower48@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Okay,
> so I have read through the archives both here and on the Samba regarding
> the drain cap.
>
> Replacement caps can be had through Terry K. and the Bus Depot.  But I
> hate the fact they both want to charge $25 plus for a plastic cap that
> probably costs 35 cents.
>
> I still have not heard of a replcement option that is the correct thread
> pitch.  Even Delta Six does not have them, I have checked with them
> personally.
>
> There has to be a cap somewhere on a common over the shelf product that
> fits....So any updates?  From what I have read, the pre '87 westy caps are
> different from the post '87 westy caps.  When I bought my Westy, it was
> through an inheritance and the executor had no idea where it could be...So I
> do not have an old cracked cap to repair or compare with.
>
> Any new ideas or reports of success with a replacement that fits?