Actually, I pretty much agree with you, but last year when I dropped the tank on my
'88 to fix the overflow-on-fillup, I found the right-side 'y' piece broken completely.
I had the repair kit, so installed the new parts. Later, I did attempt to epoxy the
broken 'y'. Even shaped a small piece of copper tube to fit inside as reinforcement.
Everything looked solid, but it only took a little force for it to come apart again.
You are also right about the job not being "that hard", but as I get on in years (67
soon), any job requiring lying on my back on hard concrete under the van gets harder
:).
Jerry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Bucchino" <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 8:00 PM
Subject: Re: More Gas Leak

>   I looked at mine the other day due to spilling apon filling up and crap
> getting into the tank.  My 84 GL has over 230K miles, is 23 yrs old and this
> crossover tube appears to look as good as new.  It's made of a material that
> should last longer than the vehicle.  Absolutely no deterioration and still
> in service.  My leak was a cracked "Y" that this tube connects to and go
> into a rubber grommet-type seal on top of the tank.  I epoxied the y-fitting
> and wrappped it with that self-sealing silicon tape for added insurance.
> All is well now.
>   BTW, the internal fuel pick-up is plumbed with the same black plastic
> tubing as the crossover pipe, and also looked excellent.  (flashlight and
> inspection mirror).  People write about these pieces crumbling to bits, but
> I find it hard to believe after close inspection of mine.  "Just go ahead
> and do it", seems like cheap advice, expensive to accomplish.  A thoughtful
> mechanic looks at everything "with a jaundiced eye" (according to John
> Muir!), and only replaces what is necessary.  When someone says, "just do it
> anyway", they're helping spend your hard-earned money for you.  I usually
> err on the side of caution, especially when the job is unpleasant and very
> involved to have to do over again.  This job isn't that bad, trust me.  Now,
> if it was a syncro tank (or early bus), that required the engine and/or
> transmission to be removed before you could access the tank, things might be
> very different.  Take all advice with a grain of salt, even this!
>
> Mike B.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gerald Masar" <azsun99@earthlink.net>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 8:41 PM
> Subject: Re: More Gas Leak
>
>
> >I would replace the crossover tube if for no other reason than one never
> >knows how
> > much longer some of these highly specialized parts are going to be
> > available.
> > Jerry
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "mad madeline" <mac10wv@YAHOO.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 4:31 PM
> > Subject: More Gas Leak
> >
> >
> >> Well, the gas leak ended up being the gas smell on filling the tank....
> >> to now
> > include a leaking injector or leaking fuel rail on the passenger side.
> > Not finished
> > diagnosing that one yet.  So, now we're into pulling the tank, replacing
> > the lines
> > here there and everywhere... both at the tank and down to and through the
> > engine.
> >>   Finally ordered a Bently manual today and have been researching all the
> >> parts
> > needed and people's recommended proceedures posted on the web.
> >>
> >>   My question is:  how often does the crossover pipe need replacing?  Is
> >> it a really
> > good idea to replace it just because the tank is off and its accessable,
> > or because
> > they really fail?  Madeline
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ---------------------------------
> >> Get your own web address for just $1.99/1st yr. We'll help. Yahoo! Small
> >> Business.
> >>
>