Roger -

Thanks for the heads up - I'll pick up a steel "firestarter" and some
extra hose and clamps when I purchase the kit.  I was looking at the
kits last night, and you're right, they don't allow for errors.

Dan
Los Angeles, CA
'85 Westy Weekender

On Apr 25, 2011, at 12:43 AM, Roger Whittaker wrote:

> dear dan new van
>
> i saw you said you looked at fuel lines but you made no mention of
> the fire
> starter piece having been replaced
> this replacement is essential to your long term trouble free
> enjoyment of
> same
> this can not be emphasized enough
> this part needs to be replaced ASAP
>
> this is a link to an image of the part located right were the fuel
> line
> passes through the firewall into the engine bay
> *http://preview.tinyurl.com/3jp4djn*
>
> many kits come with a new version of the plastic OEM ...in my
> opinion it is
> silly to replace a defective idea with a different version of the
> same thing
> ... simply run fuel supply line right from pressure side of filter
> all the
> way along gear box as per OEM then through the grommet or piece of 5/8
> heater hose set in the hole in the fire wall ... the hole made by the
> removal of the offending OEM part ... continue hose to distribution
> feeder
> manifold ...
>
> if you buy the replacement kit from gowesty or another supplier you
> will or
> may require a few more of those ear clamps --cause you will wreck a
> couple
> due to squeezing them in place in the wrong place or out of order
> during R &
> R ... also i covered my replacement supply line with 5/8 heater hose
> with
> from the firewall to each injector to give some protection from the
> heat of
> the engine wearing the integrity of the fuel supply line ... i also
> used
> some extra high pressure supply line... before i started the
> project  i
> bought an extra 10 feet in case i errored and i errored twice in the
> R & R
> ... so had to remove the mistake and replace with new line... the
> kit from
> gowesty is exactly what is required by a skilled professional and is
> not
> forgiving of mistakes ... the whole thing took me 4 hours on my back
> in the
> driveway of another vanagon owner who was kind enough to lend me
> assistance
> when needed and especially his driveway as we were a long way from
> home and
> in Chico cali (thanks peter)
> vancafe or other supplier of this item may supply extra hose for
> those of us
> who learn by mistake as they go ...i have no idea
> regards
>
> On Sun, Apr 24, 2011 at 9:51 PM, Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@verizon.net
> >wrote:
>
>> Bob and others,
>>
>> Thanks for the link to roadhaus - I just went over their list of
>> local mechanics and found some potentially good ones near me.
>> There's also a guy really close to me who, though not a VW
>> specialist, is an excellent mechanic (and a true character).  I do
>> want to bring my Van in to a good mechanic who knows vanagons just to
>> get a safety check, and overview on any mechanical work that needs to
>> be done by someone who knows the idiosyncrasies of an '85 vanagon.
>>
>>
>> A suggestion: change your mind set, or thinking about your "new"
>>> vehicle. You talk about maintaining it as though it's NOT a 20-
>>> something y/o vehicle that not many current shops will be willing to
>>> work on, and CERTAINLY not any VW dealerships, with only
>>> very rare exceptions. There are, for example, no VW dealerships
>>> in the city I live in that will consider working on, even an oil
>>> change,
>>> for a vanagon.
>>>
>>
>>
>> I hear you all on the dealerships.  My other "classic" (a '66 triumph
>> spitfire) has no dealerships since triumph is defunct, so I'm used to
>> (and prefer) doing it myself.  I didn't really expect VW to want to
>> deal with it, and I've never liked taking cars to dealerships except
>> when on warranty.  Just checkin the possibilities.
>>
>> Thanks again for the responses everyone!
>>
>>
>> Dan
>> L.A., CA
>> '85 Westy Weekender
>>
>> PS - On a side note: I did check the gas lines - most look good, but
>> I will replace since it's obvious they haven't been in the last few
>> years. They are scary - sitting right over the exhaust
>> pipes.... :^O   A little design issue there.  I'm surprised they
>> aren't metal tubes over the engine with a rubber one going to the gas
>> tank to take the vibrations.
>>
>>
>>