I actually did this a few months back, myself. When I bought the Vanagon, a new tank came with it as a part of the deal. I used the GoWesty kit, and used their crimp-style hose clamps. In fact, I replaced the entire fuel line system at the same time, with the GoWesty fuel line kit. One thing I did was to spray the entire upper surface with undercoating material before I installed it. The original came that way, and the Samba folks seemed to recommend it. Also, to make vent and filler installation a bit easier, I used petroleum jelly all around the grommets. There aren't a lot of videos on this subject, and the ones I found were from folks who were doing it for the first time, so this will be a good reference for folks looking to do this for the first time.
Echoing the sentiments of the prior comments..., well done video and appreciate you taking the time to record and share with the rest of the Vanagon brothers & sisters.
I appreciate this video! Used your techniques (including lying under gas tank when dropping it) for a Vanagon Westfalia fuel line replacement yesterday!! Many thanks
Hey man, thanks for the video! Getting ready to do this on my 84' and getting to see one done has helped my prep quite a bit. I still have to inspect all the relevant lines and hoses, but they should all only be a year old. I had a new tank put in with my 2.5 conversion, but the tank ended up getting a dent in it that has since started leaking. Wish me luck!
Excellent! Well done video - like others commented. I've got a '85 Westy also, that's been leaking for a long time - from the top somewhere whenever I fill up. Re-clamped the hoses (the ones that I could reach) that were goint to the overflows and were in bad shape, but nly helped a little. Been wanting to drop the tank to see what's going on on top of the tank, but had no idea of what was involved. Now, with your video, I'm willing to give it a go. Yahoooo for YT, and guys like you!!! Thanks!
firstmusic00 That makes sense. You know, the finish seems really durable now, so Im hoping it'll do well but if it's getting dinged up in the future it wouldn't be a bad idea to undercoat. We'll see how the finish lasts.
I gave you a thumbs up, but in the future try to show more of how to remove and install parts. Little need for the foo foo painting, and already installed parts. Thanks for the video.
+siggyman357 Thanks for the feedback. Definitely one of my early videos and next time I feel the need to video a fuel tank refresh I’ll keep your comments in mind.
Hi , Did you notice noise from fuel pump before the change out, i have the whining noise from my fuel pump, this is the second pump, the first one failed. Im wondering if my fuel was being restricted from debris, hence the noise from the pump.
The fuel system of the T3 is not a marvel of design. ( mildly said ) Many rubber-breather lines are located precisely behind the front wheels and get a hefty spray or water and tiny stones driving in a heavy rain. The T3 has no plastic mudguards. ! The rubber lines go down from the wheel bay to the tank top, hence any water is guided to the rubber grommets were the fuel-breather lines enter the tanktop. Here the problems starts after say 10-15 years: water in the tank. (drop by drop..) (wait and you will find...) Mud can collect between the tank wall and the main longeron of the car, just under the fuel pipe inlet in the tank. At 6:49 you see in a split second the wet spot (= rusted through) tank wall. My tank rusted through at that spot. The absence of internal mud guards (Cheap!) would have protected that rust. The T3 is definitly not a quality car. It was fastly designed and fastly produced to save VW from bankrupthy.. So.. If you need a Japanese engine to propel it, and have a problematic systems on board...you cannot quote: it is a good car. On my bus, I experienced at least 2-3 times the maintenance hours par 10.000 km compared to a very old Suzuki Both cars have 400.000 kms.
Can someone help me with the tube thats on top of the expansiontank at the driver side. At the end there is a v shape rubber. I misted that one on how and where i should put it back??
Is it common to have a leak at the filler hose insert location at the tank? Can I just silicone the outer area? Of should I just replace the filler neck hose on my 1981 vw?
I’ve heard that the expansion tanks can get holes by junk tossed by the tires. Has anyone ever fabbed up guards to keep those plastic babies safe? If the get holed you can get water in the tank, generate rust and have rough running problems.
Hey, I'm running a 2.2 in my '77 and I've been told to get taller gears for my transmission because it won't be able to handle the torque of the subaru motor? Does this sound right? I'm running a stock 6-rib from my bus. Will this be fine on trips or is there any truth to changing the gearing? Thanks, and great videos
I've heard that 3rd and 4th are the weak point, but I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you're either very aggressive or running a turbo. Since the 2.2 Turbo is very rare, I'll bet your not running that, so I think you'll be just fine.
Hey Busaru, I tried removing my fuel tank on my vanagon to replace all the seals on it, but I couldn't lift the front end of my van high enough to remove the braces for the fuel tank. The braces dropped down at the front, but then hit the ground, and I couldn't squeeze out the pinched ends on the other side. How did you do it? Do you have a nice fancy lift?
Busaru thanks for sharing I enjoyed it, great detail will done video.. I have just started sharing and up-load my garage fun. Your video and sound spot -on..excellent job. I felt like I was standing in your shop watching you perform the task at hand. I need to look at your past video's I have a 2.5 I want to install in my 67 bus . what are your thoughts--doable ?? Busman54
Hey Busman54, I think it's totally doable to swap a Subaru into your 67. I think the biggest hurdle with the 2.5 might be keeping it cool. May want to go with a belly mount radiator setup for bigger displacement.
I actually did this a few months back, myself. When I bought the Vanagon, a new tank came with it as a part of the deal. I used the GoWesty kit, and used their crimp-style hose clamps. In fact, I replaced the entire fuel line system at the same time, with the GoWesty fuel line kit.
One thing I did was to spray the entire upper surface with undercoating material before I installed it. The original came that way, and the Samba folks seemed to recommend it. Also, to make vent and filler installation a bit easier, I used petroleum jelly all around the grommets.
There aren't a lot of videos on this subject, and the ones I found were from folks who were doing it for the first time, so this will be a good reference for folks looking to do this for the first time.
Echoing the sentiments of the prior comments..., well done video and appreciate you taking the time to record and share with the rest of the Vanagon brothers & sisters.
It's my pleasure! I hope someone can learn from my mistakes.
I appreciate this video! Used your techniques (including lying under gas tank when dropping it) for a Vanagon Westfalia fuel line replacement yesterday!! Many thanks
Hey man, thanks for the video! Getting ready to do this on my 84' and getting to see one done has helped my prep quite a bit. I still have to inspect all the relevant lines and hoses, but they should all only be a year old. I had a new tank put in with my 2.5 conversion, but the tank ended up getting a dent in it that has since started leaking.
Wish me luck!
Good luck! But in sure you've already finished. If so, how did it go?
Looking great! thanks for the walk through!
Excellent! Well done video - like others commented. I've got a '85 Westy also, that's been leaking for a long time - from the top somewhere whenever I fill up. Re-clamped the hoses (the ones that I could reach) that were goint to the overflows and were in bad shape, but nly helped a little. Been wanting to drop the tank to see what's going on on top of the tank, but had no idea of what was involved. Now, with your video, I'm willing to give it a go. Yahoooo for YT, and guys like you!!! Thanks!
Thanks John! Good luck with your project!
Nice. I wonder if undercoating the entire tank before installation would've been a good idea....both for protection and looks.
Maybe so. It has a great finish that I wouldn't want to spoil though - looks killer in my opinion.
Busaru Oh it does look good, for sure. I was mainly thinking about protection.
firstmusic00 That makes sense. You know, the finish seems really durable now, so Im hoping it'll do well but if it's getting dinged up in the future it wouldn't be a bad idea to undercoat. We'll see how the finish lasts.
I would have liked to see more about the tool you used to attach the sending unit.
I gave you a thumbs up, but in the future try to show more of how to remove and install parts. Little need for the foo foo painting, and already installed parts. Thanks for the video.
+siggyman357 Thanks for the feedback. Definitely one of my early videos and next time I feel the need to video a fuel tank refresh I’ll keep your comments in mind.
Great vid… super helpful
Great video! Can you please tell me what size tube that is that runs from the tank to the pump?
Hi , Did you notice noise from fuel pump before the change out, i have the whining noise from my fuel pump, this is the second pump, the first one failed. Im wondering if my fuel was being restricted from debris, hence the noise from the pump.
The fuel system of the T3 is not a marvel of design. ( mildly said )
Many rubber-breather lines are located precisely behind the front wheels and get a hefty spray or water and tiny stones driving in a heavy rain. The T3 has no plastic mudguards. !
The rubber lines go down from the wheel bay to the tank top, hence any water is guided to the rubber grommets were the fuel-breather lines enter the tanktop.
Here the problems starts after say 10-15 years: water in the tank. (drop by drop..) (wait and you will find...)
Mud can collect between the tank wall and the main longeron of the car, just under the fuel pipe inlet in the tank. At 6:49 you see in a split second the wet spot (= rusted through) tank wall. My tank rusted through at that spot.
The absence of internal mud guards (Cheap!) would have protected that rust.
The T3 is definitly not a quality car. It was fastly designed and fastly produced to save VW from bankrupthy..
So..
If you need a Japanese engine to propel it, and have a problematic systems on board...you cannot quote: it is a good car.
On my bus, I experienced at least 2-3 times the maintenance hours par 10.000 km compared to a very old Suzuki
Both cars have 400.000 kms.
Good job thanks probably need to do that to my86
thank you! super helpful
great video, i always enjoy your vids. This is the next project for me :)
+John Hedley Thanks John, good luck with it!
Can someone help me with the tube thats on top of the expansiontank at the driver side. At the end there is a v shape rubber. I misted that one on how and where i should put it back??
Is it common to have a leak at the filler hose insert location at the tank? Can I just silicone the outer area? Of should I just replace the filler neck hose on my 1981 vw?
Hose is old and needs replacing., fill is most likely good.
Good video. Thanks!
I’ve heard that the expansion tanks can get holes by junk tossed by the tires. Has anyone ever fabbed up guards to keep those plastic babies safe? If the get holed you can get water in the tank, generate rust and have rough running problems.
I replaced the fuel sending unit in my 82 Vanagon and now the gauge reads 1/4 full when it is actually empty. Is there some way to calibrate it?
(Float Rod was bent in shipping most likely.)
Hey, I'm running a 2.2 in my '77 and I've been told to get taller gears for my transmission because it won't be able to handle the torque of the subaru motor? Does this sound right? I'm running a stock 6-rib from my bus. Will this be fine on trips or is there any truth to changing the gearing? Thanks, and great videos
I've heard that 3rd and 4th are the weak point, but I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you're either very aggressive or running a turbo. Since the 2.2 Turbo is very rare, I'll bet your not running that, so I think you'll be just fine.
Hey Busaru,
I tried removing my fuel tank on my vanagon to replace all the seals on it, but I couldn't lift the front end of my van high enough to remove the braces for the fuel tank. The braces dropped down at the front, but then hit the ground, and I couldn't squeeze out the pinched ends on the other side.
How did you do it? Do you have a nice fancy lift?
Just did this on my van today. Get some nice tall jackstands, and they'll drop nice and easy.
Same here...Just bend the little tabs on the brackets, and the brackets will come out...
Busaru thanks for sharing I enjoyed it, great detail will done video.. I have just started sharing and up-load my garage fun. Your video and sound spot -on..excellent job. I felt like I was standing in your shop watching you perform the task at hand.
I need to look at your past video's I have a 2.5 I want to install in my 67 bus . what are your thoughts--doable ??
Busman54
Hey Busman54, I think it's totally doable to swap a Subaru into your 67. I think the biggest hurdle with the 2.5 might be keeping it cool. May want to go with a belly mount radiator setup for bigger displacement.
Hard huh for huh me huh to mum watch!
are you a mechanic or just know a lot? lol
I've made lots of mistakes - definitely a great teacher.