Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 14:49:10 -0700
Reply-To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: replacing fuel tank
In-Reply-To: <2076194450.1381034.1374087911875.JavaMail.root@sz0094a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net>
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My ’85 tank was the same. I’m also of the school of thought that the small pre filter is useless and can even cause problems. With a new tank you won’t have chunks of anything to worry about, and the large filter constantly filters the recirculating fuel.
You can buy some hose from VC. I liked that their tank had all the openings covered so nothing could get into the tank during shipping. I’ve seen one situation where cardboard got into the tank and caused problems immediately.
Stuart
From: Skip [mailto:skiplaubach@comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 12:05 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: replacing fuel tank
Close to a purchase of a new fuel tank, myself. - '84. I experience random acts of fuel starvation at speed and questionable idle conditions which may/may not have anything to do with fuel flow or fuel blockage in the tank (reference Alistar's narrative), but I'm also suspicious. I can personally attest to changing a fuel pump in the parking lot of a FLAPS (150 miles from home, 1 hour start to finish), in which the old fuel pump beget an appreciable amount of sand when running the pump in reverse on a bench test. Also, I change my square pre-filter at every oil change and I have a post-filter ("oil can" size) as well. Cutting open the pre-filter recently showed a modest amount of dirt and sand (not much rust, however).
Specifically, the tanks for the "early Vanagons" come with 7mm exit while the "more recents" (post '85/'86?) come with a 12 mm exit. It seems in all cases that the 12mm exit is preferable. Though the input to the square pre-filter is 7mm, perhaps one could run the post-filter exclusively or source a 12 mm input pre-filter.
If all of the above is true, then does one of our friendly e-vendors carry a fuel tank that would be acceptable for an '84 and have a 12mm exit? Do the fuel tanks for the newer Vanagons fit perfectly to an '84?
All of my chatter is based on the theory that a 12 mm outlet is a better idea than a 7mm outlet. Is there a majority opinion toward this theory?
Thanks,
Skip '84 Westy, 2.2L GoWesty kit in a 1.9L case (bought the kit and had local (Chicago) hot rod machine shop install - did a nice job)
-------------------------
Thanks for the inside scoop on the sender tabs, Stuart.
Stuart said,
"Got mine from Van Café along with all the bits. Rock Auto sells them too, but they may be too cheap to be any good. Be careful installing the sender--the tabs on the tank "twist lock" need to be raised a bit on the leading corners so the sender can be twisted in. On mine with a new O-ring the plastic sender flange hit the edge and would not twist in, and you risk damaging the sender if you try to force it. Stuart"
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