86 westfalia water tank screw cap

[Taoseno]

Hi all,
Purchased a 86 locally that I found on the samba and have been using this site extensively for information.

I can't find any post to help me out with a missing water tank cap. Bought one on eBay but the threads are much bigger then mine. Anyone know a part number or alternative solution?

Much thanks for all the info on this site.
-Travis

[Taoseno]

The cap I received. Anyone know what this fits?
I'll put it up for sale.

[ak_runner]

I am not sure about the top cap you need but do know that there are different drain caps. Sometime in 1987 the drain cap changed and maybe the top one does too. I suspect they changed either the vendor or had some reason to change the tank measurements and this is what you have run into. That or at some point a prior owner replaced the tank with one from a different year. Those of us with 1987 Westy's have to identify when our van was built to get the correct drain cap and even then it can be wrong as during assembly of vehicles manufacturers use what ever parts they have left in the bin before switching to the new style even if it is after the date they claim to have made the change.

Mark
_________________
AK_Runner
`87 Westy Syncro

[Taoseno]

Thanks for the reply. I also need to replace those caps but have found lots of threads with information for them. This main cap eludes me still.

[Taoseno]

Forgot to mention it is a Canadian model. So the water tank might very well be unique in that regard.

[jmranger]

Canadian Westies kept the early water setup (with the water pump under the sink) much longer than the US. I’m not aware of any difference in the cap, but there may be one. Maybe a cap for a US 81-82 Westy would fit.
My (canadian 87) cap doesn’t have any rib on the external side IIRC - that might be a clue when looking at pictures.
Edit to add: found an old pic in my gallery

[the joker]

I may have what you need, pm me the measurement of the opening

have one off my 84 joker

[drip]

I have recently purchased a 82 Westy. How would I access the top of the water tank like that.
Thanks

[Paulbeard]

[Taoseno]

Okay so I think I've got this worked out. Seems that the earlier models had a thinner threading and the later ones had the huge thread that I was sent. Thanks to shouldhave for the info and helping source a part. Here is what the thinner threaded cap looks like:

[Taoseno]

Update: The cap shown above also doesn't fit... About the same size but the threads don't match up
The search continues.

[Ahwahnee]

[SyncroButter]

[fxr]

[drip]

So on my 82 Westy the water tank is located under the rear table below the two storage compartments? When I looked in there I wasn’t sure how to remove or access the top of the tank. Is it the forward or rear compartment?
The two compartments don’t seem to share a common space. Have a divider between them.

[yellowjacket]

The rear one.
_________________
86 Syncro Westy - Bostig RG11
71 Squareback

[Taoseno]

Based on others opinion and pictures that it is the correct lid for my tank I got back to this project and got it to work. I got a couple different files and shaved down/dug the threads deeper on the lid and tank checking after every 5 min of work. Eventually it started to seem like the threads actually matched. Kept up until it would turn all the way down with a little coconut oil to lube it 🥥
Water system complete 👌

[bbaca75]

I'll have to try this... just got a tintop syncro with westfalia camper inside. Not sure what year camper it came out of but my lid also doesn't work... I guess I'll try filing it. Where did you end up getting a cap though, just in case.