TheSamba.com :: View topic - Fuel sender access hole, to do or not to do?

Tue May 24, 2011 6:27 am

Kirk wrote: That is nice. Wish the PO had done mine that way. :roll:

Cleaning that up is one of my long list projects.

Get a few more rolls of duct tape and you can complete the redo of your interior.

Tue May 24, 2011 6:28 am

Kirk wrote: That is nice. Wish the PO had done mine that way. :roll:

Cleaning that up is one of my long list projects.

This illustrates my point very well. Does that look like a proper vapor barrier to you guys? There's a reason that the fuel tank area is sealed.

Tue May 24, 2011 6:57 am

aeromech wrote: This illustrates my point very well. Does that look like a proper vapor barrier to you guys? There's a reason that the fuel tank area is sealed.

Yes, but a quick trip to the junk yard, sawzall in hand can quickly make this

look like this

Tue May 24, 2011 8:56 am

So Aeromech, being the duct tape illustrates a hack job by your standards then I can assume all the rest that have been pictured meet your high standards for non hack jobs?

Tue May 24, 2011 9:14 am

busman78 wrote: So Aeromech, being the duct tape illustrates a hack job by your standards then I can assume all the rest that have been pictured meet your high standards for non hack jobs?

I'm not a VW purist by any means and I have done my share of cutting. When I do I try to do a clean job I can be proud of. Duct tape is not what I would consider a permanent repair. The orange panel in the pictures does look to me like a clean job as well as a permanent repair. That said, in order to get the metal for that repair the owner must have had to find a donar bus. That requires some effort, much more than a roll of duct tape from Home Depot. He obviously takes great pride in his bus as well as the work he performs on it.

So, from your question to me I have to assume that your idea of a hack job differs from mine, is that right?

Tue May 24, 2011 9:19 am

Wildthings wrote: aeromech wrote: This illustrates my point very well. Does that look like a proper vapor barrier to you guys? There's a reason that the fuel tank area is sealed.

Yes, but a quick trip to the junk yard, sawzall in hand can quickly make this

look like this

Exactly my plan. I shall document it when I do for all to see. What should you use under that metal lip to seal the fumes off?

Tue May 24, 2011 9:37 am

What should you use under that metal lip to seal the fumes off?

Well that depends on if you plan to reopen it some time down the road. If not, we used a product in aviation fuel tanks called PRC. It is a two part rtv like material you can seal this with and is made for this type of application. Getting it apart later on would destroy the new panel unless used very sparingly.

PR-1776 Low Weight Fuel Tank Sealant
Description
PR-1776M Class B is a low density, high temperature aircraft integral fuel tank sealant. It has a service temperature range from -65°F (-54°C) to 250°F (121°C), with intermittent excursions up to 360°F (182°C). This material is designed for fillet sealing of fuel tanks and other aircraft fuselage sealing applications. It offers as much as a twenty percent weight savings, per unit volume, over traditional sealants used for these purposes. The cured sealant maintains excellent elastomeric properties after prolonged exposure to aircraft fuels both jet fuel and aviation gas, and will resist limited contact to diphosphate ester based hydraulic fluids.

If you want the panel to be easily removable but still seal I guess you'd have to find some kind of rubber edge material. Think of something like fuel line sliced down the center and slid over the lip. Maybe held in place with weatherstrip adheasive.

Tue May 24, 2011 10:16 am

3M 08500 Body Sealant will do the sealing, does not harden completely, removal is easy, paintable. Plus if your vapor lines are good, filler neck is good, sender seal good there should be no fumes at all. If you are smelling fuel then there are other things needing a little attention.

Tue May 24, 2011 12:06 pm

if you are going to do it do it right
duck tape is for ducks, the orange cover is the way to go
i voted cut it, but do it right, OK the motor is out now, if it all goes back together, then fails later, that would suck

Tue May 24, 2011 1:09 pm

you guys are worried about fumes entering the bus... there should be no fumes coming from the tank

Tue May 24, 2011 1:33 pm

Lettuce wrote: you guys are worried about fumes entering the bus... there should be no fumes coming from the tank

Accidents happen.

Tue May 24, 2011 2:02 pm

We have reached 50/50 in the poll and in the beginning it was - dont do it, until pictures were posted of good cut and repair jobs now it seems that the best decision would go ahead and make the cut but to cover it very professionally while the motor is already out. Thanks for all the help samba members!

Aeromech talked me into redo-ing my tank too.. So my project list just got longer- thanks 8)

Tue May 24, 2011 4:27 pm

Kirk wrote: What should you use under that metal lip to seal the fumes off?

Just use high temp silicone. It will hold up long enough for you to get out of the cab if you get a fire going back there. The cover will still be removable, though it will take some prying.

Tue May 24, 2011 8:48 pm

Wildthings wrote: Kirk wrote: What should you use under that metal lip to seal the fumes off?

Just use high temp silicone. It will hold up long enough for you to get out of the cab if you get a fire going back there. The cover will still be removable, though it will take some prying.

Heavily wax the edges of the hole, apply the RTV to the cover and install. It should remove easily.

Wed May 25, 2011 11:06 pm

aeromech wrote: Lettuce wrote: you guys are worried about fumes entering the bus... there should be no fumes coming from the tank

Accidents happen.

Sealing the hole is an accident. If something is leaking I want a chance to catch it.

Thu May 26, 2011 7:41 am

Lettuce wrote: aeromech wrote: Lettuce wrote: you guys are worried about fumes entering the bus... there should be no fumes coming from the tank

Accidents happen.

Sealing the hole is an accident. If something is leaking I want a chance to catch it.

How would you know? That's one of the pre-existing aromas that makes an ACVW so special, gas fumes... :lol:

Fri May 27, 2011 11:18 am

aeromech wrote: Lettuce wrote: you guys are worried about fumes entering the bus... there should be no fumes coming from the tank

Accidents happen.

people also happen, ignore the cut in the tank, this bay tank had 5 screw holes in it, from a PO who fitted a home made interior, i guess they only had looooong screws

Fri May 27, 2011 11:30 am

Don't see how anyone could do that without blowing the tank, the bus, and themselves to high heaven.

rubbachicken wrote:

Fri May 27, 2011 12:08 pm

rubbachicken wrote:

Bet this guy thought he had a bad fuel float since he never could seem to get a full tank indication...and what's up with that persistant gas smell? :roll:

Fri May 27, 2011 12:10 pm

Nice clean cut though. :P