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AndyBees
Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 2621
Location: Southeast Kentucky
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 Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 4:38 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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When I receive a new Fuel Tank, i clean and rough up the paint with Scotch-Brite and sandpaper. Then, after further prepping, I give it a couple of coats of paint.
Below are pics of the tank I installed about 11 years go. I had it out last summer and gave it another coat of paint after prepping. It was the first tank that I installed without prepping before painting, You can see the "before" photo that it held up pretty good. Also, a peek inside never showed any rust. The photos were taken outside so you are seeing some shading/lighting affects.
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful. |
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MFerioli
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 126
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2025 9:23 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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Thanks for sharing that. What are you painting it with, spray cans or a better setup?
Where did you buy that tank / who made it?
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1989 Westfalia full camper, 2WD, 4-speed, 2.1 WBX |
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AndyBees
Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 2621
Location: Southeast Kentucky
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 6:20 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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| MFerioli wrote: |
Thanks for sharing that. What are you painting it with, spray cans or a better setup?
Where did you buy that tank / who made it? |
I used paint from Tractor Supply. It was something over $7 or $8 per can.
The tank come from eBay ...... likely China made.
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3737
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 7:20 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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| MFerioli wrote: |
Thanks for that info about getting a tank on amazon. It's pretty hard to discern if a more expensive tank is actually better, or if it's just being marked up. I believe some tanks are built with better materials or thicker materials, have better coatings, and less install issues. But figuring out if you are actually getting one of those tanks seems hard to tell by looking at price alone. I'm not too worried about getting a really bad or unusable tank, I'm more concerned about overpaying for no good reason.
i had to take a break from all this van stuff, but hopefully I'll pick a tank soon. In the meantime, I'm installing the SS coolant pipes that I bought on sale a while back. Plus some other coolant bits while the system is empty. |
I am pretty sure you can get a really bad or unusable tank for very little money. And since you are not concerned as such about really bad or unusable tanks, just go for the lowest price. 
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Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3737
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 7:22 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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| AndyBees wrote: |
When I receive a new Fuel Tank, i clean and rough up the paint with Scotch-Brite and sandpaper. Then, after further prepping, I give it a couple of coats of paint.
Below are pics of the tank I installed about 11 years go. I had it out last summer and gave it another coat of paint after prepping. It was the first tank that I installed without prepping before painting, You can see the "before" photo that it held up pretty good. Also, a peek inside never showed any rust. The photos were taken outside so you are seeing some shading/lighting affects.
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The lack of rust showing where the paint is removed indicates that the steel tanks have a corrosion protective layer, like galvinizing. Id not sand on that, as sanding can remove it.
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Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9992
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 8:01 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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| zerotofifty wrote: |
| ...just go for the lowest price. |
That's what I did the last time I got a Vanagon tank, and it has worked perfectly for the last 12 years or so. |
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MFerioli
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 126
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 9:29 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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ha! I guess I worded that poorly.
waldo's experience is what I was thinking about. Seems like even the cheap tanks are fine or are basically the same as the pricey tanks in terms of performance and longevity. I feel like it's very difficult to know if the tank you are getting is truly better or just marked up.
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1989 Westfalia full camper, 2WD, 4-speed, 2.1 WBX |
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AndyBees
Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 2621
Location: Southeast Kentucky
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 10:27 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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| zerotofifty wrote: |
| The lack of rust showing where the paint is removed indicates that the steel tanks have a corrosion protective layer, like galvinizing. Id not sand on that, as sanding can remove it. |
Although I said in the other post that I used sandpaper, I never sanded deeply or to make it slick. If I remember correctly, I also used soap, water and Scotch-brite to remove anything oily that might be on it. That first paint job was straight out of the box and is likely why the paint came off here and there.
But, I do agree, it appeared to have some sort of coating.
I've told the story a few times and I'll make it short here. I wrestled with the OE tank in my 83 Air-cool back in 1992. It was rusty inside. I prepped it internally and coated it using fuel tank coat. Little did I know there were screens inside. But, fortunately, the coating worked out okay. I would never do that again because it was way too much work. Buy a new tank and move on.
_________________
'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful. |
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MFerioli
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 126
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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I ended up going with a spectra tank. I based that on not being able to determine if I am really getting meaningfully better quality from a more expensive tank that I would have to pay to ship. Plus, I got 15% back through capitol one.
If I had unlimited resources, then maybe I would support a smaller business and buy from a VW specific vendor. Which I do for most other van parts.
I'll post about the visible quality when I get it.
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1989 Westfalia full camper, 2WD, 4-speed, 2.1 WBX |
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MFerioli
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 126
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 8:07 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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I got the tank. I'm concerned about the location of these dents. I'm afraid the grommets won't seal well. I haven't dry fit anything yet though. Of course, my dents had to be in that spot. ugh
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1989 Westfalia full camper, 2WD, 4-speed, 2.1 WBX |
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MFerioli
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 126
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 8:20 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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Aside from the shipping dents, the tank looks good. Made in Taiwan.
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1989 Westfalia full camper, 2WD, 4-speed, 2.1 WBX |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 4376
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 8:58 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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if you got time for it to sort out - what's the replacement/return policy for your seller?
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Abscate 
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 23784
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 9:48 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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Pop them out with a slide hammer and some hardware. 10x faster than a return which will come ship damaged again,anyway.
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πΊπΈ πΊπΈ πΊπΈ πΊπΈ πΊπΈ πΊπΈ πΊπΈ π π π |
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MFerioli
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 126
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:47 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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return wouldn't be an issue. dent roulette all over again though.
I don't have slide hammer experience, maybe I can rent one and give it a try? I was thinking a tool used for paintless dent repair, something curved to get up in there and massage it could work.
I wish I just got the bent tabs. Ha!
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1989 Westfalia full camper, 2WD, 4-speed, 2.1 WBX |
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MFerioli
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 126
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 11:22 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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well, I put the new grommets in there and they seem to seal nice and tight. I think I'll just roll with it as is. I don't think working out the dent will really make any difference in the seal as it sits now. Hopefully I can be putting this in soon.
The tank paint looks good and the steel feels plenty thick. So far, I don't see any obvious issues with this manufacturer. $182.90 to my door from shitty walmart. Plus some cash back through capital one shopping and capital one CC miles. I don't feel great about it, but it was the best deal I could find on a brand tank that I'd seen at other sellers and mentioned here.
Thanks for the thoughts.
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1989 Westfalia full camper, 2WD, 4-speed, 2.1 WBX |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3737
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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| MFerioli wrote: |
well, I put the new grommets in there and they seem to seal nice and tight. I think I'll just roll with it as is. I don't think working out the dent will really make any difference in the seal as it sits now. Hopefully I can be putting this in soon.
The tank paint looks good and the steel feels plenty thick. So far, I don't see any obvious issues with this manufacturer. $182.90 to my door from shitty walmart. Plus some cash back through capital one shopping and capital one CC miles. I don't feel great about it, but it was the best deal I could find on a brand tank that I'd seen at other sellers and mentioned here.
Thanks for the thoughts. |
I have found Walmart to be pretty fucking good. Great prices on many things.
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Sorry About That Chief.
Give Peace a Chance.
Words to live by. |
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skills@eurocarsplus
Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007
Posts: 17827
Location: sticksville, ct.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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fuck that
get a new tank. that won't ever work out well enough to use long term imho
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| gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
| Jake Raby wrote: |
| Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
| Brian wrote: |
| Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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AndyBees
Samba Member
Joined: January 31, 2008
Posts: 2621
Location: Southeast Kentucky
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| Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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The seals will be just fine!
Install it and move on!
_________________
'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful. |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 5673
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2025 7:34 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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if you haven't installed the dented tank yet, i would apply Permatex Motoseal to the rubber grommets. in addition to sealing well and gasoline resistant, it also secures the grommets from accidentally being pushed in while wrassling the vent tubes.
https://www.permatex.com/products/gasketing/specia...ey-2-7-oz/
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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Ninz306
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2021
Posts: 21
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:38 am Post subject: Re: Gowesty gas tank vs others? |
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I bought a Cip 1 tank. Seems fine to me. I dont think theres a significant amount of engineering that goes into a gas tank. The point of failure seems to be in the aftermarket fuel level sensors and the rubber gromets that will eventually fail. I opted to weld bungs on a new gas tank and fabricated a ring with nut rivets for the fuel sending units. The wet spots are from soapy water after I pushed compressed air into the tank to detect leaks. Proud to say it hasn't leaked.
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