My hard fuel line is bad!! Any suggestions?

[1965rpm]

I just got a 1974 Thing 2 weeks ago. While replacing the gas tank and soft fuel lines we found that the metal line that runs through the tunnel is shot! I was told by the ThingShop.com that there is no way to replace it. We are going to bypass it for now with a regular fuel line but I will need to eventually make it safe. I read that refrigeration 1/4" copper hose can be used to run on either the inside or outside of the car. Any suggestions?

[Yarkle]

some say its a PITA, but it can be done. same dealio as on a beetle

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=252464

Bruce (who sometimes posts in this forum) says its relatively easy towards the end of that thread

this is what you are dealing with;

_________________
Tilda the Mustard Tigress 1973 Squareback (o'''^'''o)

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=771024&highlight=

[[email protected]]

I replaced the fuel line on my 73 beetle, it also runs through the tunnel. I bought some steel brake line from FLAPS. It took a full day to yank the old one out and shove the new one in.

[ente_kaefer]

A previous owner replaced the steel fuel line that runs through the tunnel in my car with 1/4 inch rubber fuel line. I ended up having it pulled out, and replaced with metric steel brake line, running along the inside of channel on the left side of the pan. Worked like a champ . . .

[vwwestyman]

OP: What's wrong with your line?

Rusted through? Clogged?

If clogged, you can try what I did with my Thing.

I blasted compressed air through the line front to back and back to front several times. I then filled the line with carb cleaner and repeated again a few times.

I don't know that mine was totally clogged, but a bunch of gunk came out, and it has worked great since. That metal line was the only part of the fuel system that I didn't replace when I was reviving my Thing.
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[CraigInPA]

You can buy a coil of steel lined with copper specifically designed for fuel line at your local NAPA, AutoZone, Advanced Auto, etc... IIRC, a 25' coil ran about $10 or $12 when I bought it a few years ago.

My original line through the tunnel was completely clogged (I tried to fish from both ends, pour carb cleaner in it, etc...), mostly with rust scale. I had no success trying to remove it to replace it, either. Eventually, I ran new hard line from the front to the back, following a VWOA schematic used for, I think, Type 1's with fuel injection. The VWOA schematic was for the "return" line to the tank and ran on the outside of the tunnel on the passenger side. Except for three bends which required a lot of precise measuring and a tubing bender, it was a breeze to install.

Link to the VWOA method thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=240404&

[Yarkle]

in one of the threads linked to in the post i linked, it has the VWOA instructions
_________________
Tilda the Mustard Tigress 1973 Squareback (o'''^'''o)

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=771024&highlight=

[citroen]

It's not a big problem to replace I think Ron and I replaced one in about a hour as long as you get you hands in the front on the frame hole and the hole under the back seat. We bought a coil of steel line at O'Reilly's it is a easy job.