John:
Good idea on the firewall fitting. except that it doesn't even need to
go thru the firewall, it can go under the firewall.
And there is a super way to fix the short lines to the injectors and the
plastic manifolds at each side (what WERE they thinkin?) and hoses in
between. It is spelled S-U-B-A-R-U. Look at one of those engines
sometime. I used to think WBX's were good enough till I got a Subie
laying on the floor. Now I think those German engineers deserve to be
unemployed. Getting close to time for me to bring my Vanagon into the
90's at least. there are NO plastic/ rubber/ combustion failure fuel
lines on a Subie- they are all metal. The injectors sit in a manifold
wiith o-rings!
The VW fuel injected engines have been regularly imolting the cars since
the 411-412/ 914 days of the mid 70's!! Precious little has changed thru
1991. VW should be ashamed of themselves for not fixing this a long time
ago. I'm surprised some enterprising lawyer didn't file a  class action
suit. Certainly there were deep enough pockets there.
I cannot think of another company that has had such a big part of its
cars burn.
And oh, BTW,  plastic fiberglas, it's all GRP. And it burns at somewhat
lower temps than steel. Mine are steel. If someone needs a GRP one, they
are for sale. SAVE 20 LB!
Al Brase

John Rodgers wrote:

> If you can find an aviation hardware catalog, either papaer or on the
> web, you can look through the "AN Fittings" section  and find hardware
> designed specifically for firewall applications. If it fits the firewall
> of an airplane, it will fit the firewall of a Vanagon.
>
> Some of the fittings are stainless, some are aluminum. In either case,
> they would ba good application for our vans..
>
> Frankly, I would like to install one of those, plus convert all the
> rubber FI hoses over to the aircraft type flex fuel lines - Aeroquip
> specifically. . These are a hose with a braided stainless anti-chafe
> shielding on the outside, and AN hose fittings swedged on the ends of
> the hose. A different "T" connector would be required to make the split
> for distribution to eich side fo the engine. Such hoses might reduce the
> fire tendencies of the Vanagon.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> jbange wrote:
>
>>> Along with the fuel lines, please don't forget the nylon firewall
>>> fitting
>>> (white, or now yellow, it points down at the engine at a 45 degree
>>> angle,
>>> mounted about the mid span of the firewall) with the fuel supply
>>> pressure
>>> hoses attached. It really can be broken with the greatest of ease
>>> as I
>>> found out doing my engine conversion. Please change it too.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regarding this firewall bulkhead fitting: is there a reason not to just
>> eliminate it entirely and  just run a continuous fuel line through a big
>> ol'  grommet instead? I haven't looked at it yet, but it sure sounds
>> to me
>> like it's there for manufacturing convenience more than anything else.
>>
>> John Bange
>> '90 Vanagon "Geldsauger"
>>
>>
>