Not sure what you mean by "after" the thin metal lines.  On my vehicles the components, in order, are: expansion tank, 5.5mm rubber lines, metal lines, 5.5mm rubber lines, tank.  If you're talking about the rubber lines between the expansion tanks and the metal lines, then there's no need to drop the tank since both ends of the rubber lines are accessible from under the wheel well.  If you're talking about the rubber lines between the metal lines and the tank, then you probability will have to drop the tank, or at least drop the front of the tank to give yourself enough room to play.  
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Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jason Willenbrock 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 8:38 AM
  Subject: replacing gas lines

  today i noticed on my 90 gl, that i am leaking gas from the lines going from driver's and passenger sides expansion tanks.  the rubber lines after the thin metal lines are the culprits.  anyways, i just gave it the once over, do i need to drop the whole tank in order to get at these?  or can i just simply remove the front tires, remove the lines from the plastic tank, then reach over and down and remove the lines at the metal tank and replace them?  should be a simple procedure, right?