Date:         Thu, 2 Sep 1999 20:55:35 -0700
Reply-To:     "Tom L. Neal" <jneal@NETCOM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Tom L. Neal" <jneal@NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Learnings from replacing the fuel lines
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Thanks to Ken Wilford for the fuel line replacement kit.
Finally got around to installing it and learned a lot from a slow careful
replacement.

Learnings:
1.A PROBLEM PREVENTION OPPORTUNITY: Check for a vacuum pipe that may be
riding on the top of the left injector rail.  A lot of plastic had been
rubbed off.
2.The easiest way to get off the crimp clamps is to twist them into
metal fatigue with some pliars, while supporting the line.
3.New protective sleeving is hard to find, even from a dealer, on short
notice.  Leaving the old sleeves in place, it's easiest to just slide out
the old tubing and slide in the new.  However, may want to check for rubbing
marks on the old sleeve.
4.Replacing the injector seals and cleaning their seats is very satisfying.
5.A hacksaw blade cuts the short pipes quite well, being slow and careful.
6.Cut the new lines a little long and trim if appropriate.
7.Any extra 7 mm tubing can replace the small  crumbling vertical coolant
pipes that are sprinkled around the engine compartment.  One literally
fell apart when I touched it.  It had been dry for a few days
because I replaced the catsup lid capped coolant distribution unit with a
new one. The catsup lid was still firmly in place after 2,000 miles.

Thanks, Ken.  Right stuff at the right price, with great instructions.

And thanks to Coby who pointed out that the fuel pressure is checked by
taking the screw and washer out of the four finger junction and clamping on
some 7 mm tubing that has a pressure gauge at the other end.

Tom Neal '87 syncro