Ron,
    Here's a post regarding this just 2 days ago.  Those vapor vent hoses do
leak, as well as the fitting and grommets above the tank itself.

These are fuel expansion/ vapor recovery tanks, located in each front
wheelwell.  Strictly junkyard items only, AFAIK.  The top valve and seal are
both available as replacement parts.  I did some repairs to mine to fix a
broken outlet tube, and it held for years until I sold the van.  It was a
hell of lot better than smelling gas all the time.

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Slloth" <slloth@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2008 1:54 PM
Subject: Fuel expansion?

> There is a plastic tank located under the drivers side with about three
> hose coming off of it.  Is this a fuel expansion tank?  Whatever it is
> it needs to be replaced any ideas on what this is and the best place to
> get a new one?  '84 gasoline westfalia
>
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Toby" <ronkat81@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 5:56 PM
Subject: Re: Bearings for alternator and two tanks

> MIke,
>        Yeah I hope I won't  have to.  However the possibility remains that
> is what I'll be forced to do.  I thought that I would include the numbers
> off of the altenator just in case it may help someone to in turn help me.
> The numbers are as follows:
>  Top line                  0 120 469 631         712
>  Below that              N1 (then a arrow) 14v34/90A
>  Final Line              176903 027
>  I assume the 90a is for 90 amps and the arrow is the turning direction.
> Directly below the 90a there is a small oval with 20 in it.
>
>  Now out of curiosity there are two translucent tanks, one under each
> wheel well that I have no idea what they are for.  If they are the reserve
> gas tank, which I would doubt they would be although I very well could be
> wrong, then it would seem that they are in a dangerous position as a
> hazard for a rock to puncture them.  Could they be a vaccum tank setup?
> Now perhaps when I was asking about my fuel mileage and someone pointed
> out fuel leaks it non intentionally omitted that I do have a fuel leak in
> the neck or perhaps the joint of the neck of the fuel tank and the filler.
> Perhaps it also could be in those vaccum lines if they are connected to
> the gas tank or lines.  I will try to drop it down sometime this week and
> find out.
>
>  Thanks everyone!
>  Keep on VW'ing
>  Ron
>
> Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote:
>  If no one knows the answer, Ron, then I'm sure you could take the
> slightly longer way around and remove the bearings from your alternator
> and go shopping with the old ones in hand. If the shop truly has all
> kinds of bearings, they should be able to fix you up.
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> Ron Toby wrote:
>> Hi Does anyone know what size bearings are needed in a alternator for a
>> 85 vanagon? It is a weekender Westy with the two battery setup. My belt
>> broke Sunday as I was leaving for church and when I replaced it on Monday
>> the bearings are keeping all grades of noise intermittantly. Help I hope
>> to be able to salvage the alternator without having to replace the whole
>> thing. There is a shop arond here that sells all kinds of bearings and I
>> hope to be able to just remove it and put more right in with no down
>> time. Help!!!
>>
>> Ron
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------
>> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster
>> Total Access, No Cost.
>>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster
> Total Access, No Cost.