For me it isn't about how "hard" the job is, it is about the time; so I tend
to do the whole thing at once rather than taking it apart repeatedly.

I love my van, but I can't spend all my time working on it.  Somehow when I
was younger I had more time to take apart cars for fun..........

On 9/24/06, Gerald Masar <azsun99@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> 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.
> > >>
> >
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com