Date:         Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:13:38 -0500
Reply-To:     Dan Barrett <dbx@POBOX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dan Barrett <dbx@POBOX.COM>
Subject:      fuel tank <-> pump diameter mismatch
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1

Volks,
  Just had a new fuel tank put in my 1990 GL because the old one was well
rusted.  I could've sworn that on my old tank, the diameter of the tank
outlet and the diameter of the fuel pump inlet were equal -- it was a
stretch of larger-diameter hose connecting the two.

  The new tank's outlet looks to be narrower than the old one's: the same
diameter as the line coming out of the fuel pump, i.e. the 7mm (?) line
that runs to the engine compartment.  But that leaves me with hooking up
the large-diameter fuel pump inlet to the small-diameter fuel tank
outlet.  The shop I took it to (a bunch of VW old-timers who work almost
entirely on air-cooleds) fashioned some kind of adapter out of what
looks like copper tubing and solder to mate the wide fuel pump line to a
narrower bit of hose connected to the fuel tank outlet.

  I'd be laughing about it if it weren't leaking ever so slightly when the
engine is off.

  So, now it's snowing out, my fuel system is slowly leaking onto the
street, and I'm wondering what to do.  I've never had anything between
the fuel pump and the tank (like that weird box filter on Bentley
20.26), so what on earth is going on here?  What if I just put a length
of 7mm hose over the fuel tank outlet pipe to build up its diameter, and
then clamp the wider-diameter fuel pump line over that?  Any guidance
appreciated.

Best,
d.
1990 GL -- "Mudskipper"