does it go in the same as the old tank? (i've been off/on considering
replacing mine)

On Wed, Jul 17, 2013 at 4:14 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Actually the later tanks take an 11mm hose. The 86 and later vans do not
> use a filter before the pump, just the inlet screen in the tank. If you
> have sand and debris in the tank then most likely the vapor recovery system
> on top has broken, leaking parts and road stuff has been getting inside.
> With few exceptions today's fuel supplies are very clean. The larger filter
> has more capacity and filters smaller particles to protect the injectors.
> The fuel system recirculates the fuel so the stuff in the tank should
> actually get cleaner as you drive. The recommended service interval for the
> later fuel filter is 30K miles. Filters before the pump increase the
> possibility of vapor lock and are no longer used by most manufacturers. In
> fact many now put the pump inside the tank or use a pre-pump. If buying a
> tank I would go with the 11mm outlet.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Skip
> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 3:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: replacing fuel tank
>
> Close to a purchase of a new fuel tank, myself. - '84.   I experience
> random acts of fuel starvation at speed and questionable idle conditions
> which may/may not have anything to do with fuel flow or fuel blockage in
> the tank (reference Alistar's narrative), but I'm also suspicious.  I can
> personally attest to changing a fuel pump in the parking lot of a FLAPS
> (150 miles from home, 1 hour start to finish), in which the old fuel pump
> beget an appreciable amount of sand when running the pump in reverse on a
> bench test.  Also, I change my square pre-filter at every oil change and I
> have a post-filter ("oil can" size) as well.  Cutting open the pre-filter
> recently showed a modest amount of dirt and sand (not much rust, however).
>
> Specifically, the tanks for the "early Vanagons" come with 7mm exit while
> the "more recents" (post '85/'86?) come with a 12 mm exit.  It seems in all
> cases that the 12mm exit is preferable.  Though the input to the square
> pre-filter is 7mm, perhaps one could run the post-filter exclusively or
> source a 12 mm input pre-filter.
>
> If all of the above is true, then does one of our friendly e-vendors carry
> a fuel tank that would be acceptable for an '84 and have a 12mm exit?  Do
> the fuel tanks for the newer Vanagons fit perfectly to an '84?
>
> All of my chatter is based on the theory that a 12 mm outlet is a better
> idea than a 7mm outlet.  Is there a majority opinion toward this theory?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Skip '84 Westy, 2.2L GoWesty kit in a 1.9L case (bought the kit and had
> local (Chicago) hot rod machine shop install - did a nice job)
> -------------------------
> Thanks for the inside scoop on the sender tabs, Stuart.
> Stuart said,
>    "Got mine from Van Café along with all the bits.  Rock Auto sells them
> too,  but they may be too cheap to be any good.  Be careful installing the
>  sender--the tabs on the tank "twist lock" need to be raised a bit on the
>  leading corners so the sender can be twisted in.  On mine with a new
> O-ring  the plastic sender flange hit the edge and would not twist in, and
> you risk  damaging the sender if you try to force it.     Stuart"
>