Water Tank for a SO-42

[rennie]

[BarryL]

[rennie]

[DadaCheese]

Finally made some decisions, and finished my tank up...

I hope this will be useful to others as they take this on.
Naturally you may go about it a different way, but having lots of information can/will/should help.

This entry is meant to place most all if what I learned getting this together.

First; a list of parts:

1. The ice box unit of an SO-42 (this is where the water tank resides. Behind the ice box.)
2. The Water Tank
3. The filler-neck that comes out of the top of the cabinet.
4. A clamp that will hold the filler-neck to the corresponding part on the tank.
5. A pick-up line (preferably straight) to draw water out of the tank and thread into the tank its self.
6. A right-angled piece to connect tubing to, preferably barbed.
7. A hand pump.
8. Some flexible correctly-sized tubing
9. Some clamps to hold the tubing to the barbed pick-up piece, and to the pump.
10. A correctly-fitted drain pipe with a ballcock (plumbing term) valve.
11. Some plumber's tape.

Where do I get these things?

...well, I am writing this in May of 2017.
Likely the links I place here will change or die, but hopefully the descriptions will help.

1. The ice box unit.
If you don't have an SO-42 and don't have this cabinet, well this won't help you much.

2. The Water Tank
Fortunately, there is a company in California making exact duplicates, NEW of the water tank.
Where to order from:
http://www.incaplastics.com/page15.html

3. The filler-neck that comes out of the top of the cabinet.

No one is making these, but luckily there have been some repops for Bay Window that are almost identical, they just need to be cut down.
The one on the left is the original.

4. A clamp that will hold the filler-neck to the corresponding part on the tank.
In the picture above you can see the original clamp. Any similar-sized clamp should do.

5. A pick-up line (preferably straight) to draw water out of the tank and thread into the tank its self.

...now this is tricky. I forget if it was this thread or others that someone said they made their own. Great for them. I don't have those skills.
It took a LOT of searching, but I found one that is long enough (too long, actually, but I cut it to proper length).

I got it from www.fisheriessupply.com
Item ID: MOE 033500-36
445884: 36IN Fuel Pick Up 3/4X1/4NPT

6. A right-angled piece to connect tubing to, preferably barbed.
Sorry; this is a bit of a misnomer. The pick-up tube (pictured above) already has the right-angle. So the piece I mean is something to conect to that which will connect to the flexible tubing.
I bought the one you see below at a local Home Depot:

Together with the pick-up tube and the tubing that goes to the pump:

7. A hand pump.
This is another tricky one. If you have read through this thread, you'll learn that currently (May 2017) no one seems to be making identical 2-screw hole Hand Pumps.
I spent more than I am willing to admit to see what works best (for me) and/or was most authentic looking... I was debating drilling a hole and putting in the one that looks original, but has three holes... but then I saw in a picture that I took in 1987 that my dad must have, at one time, replaced it himself:

...I decided to see if THAT type of pump is any good, and did find one.
The model I bought is called a : Valterra RP800 Chrome Rocket Hand Pump
Here it is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BGM2XG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I attached it and it worked AMAZINGLY WELL (for me, and my purposes).
The bad news is that the screw holes did not line up.
I had to make TWO NEW screw holes. The body of it covers most all of the prior holes that were stock, or that my dad must have made.
For me, this one works the best, and I have tried four different types of pumps.

8. Some flexible correctly-sized tubing
Bring your pump and/or your barbed connections to a good hardware store, and they'll help you get the right size. You can pick up: 9. Some clamps while you are at it.

10. A correctly-fitted drain pipe with a ballcock (plumbing term) valve.

I don't believe I have my original one anywhere any longer. You can see in this thread pictures of ones that look right/good.
Here's a picture from a Bay Window tank that looks correct:

What I did, for now, was take the tank into a hardware store, and with some help got the following parts just to have something that works:

The real problem with it, is that unlike the original, which had been small/thin enough that if you are lifting the fridge unit out of your Westfalia, I actually have to REMOVE this one from underneath the car before I can do that. Eventually I hope to find/get the correct kind.

11. Some plumber's tape.

Get that while you're at the hardware store.

OK; here's a picture of everything together (but from when I was still deciding which pump to use):

...does it work? YES. Exceedingly well.
I want to thank everyone for their input on this thread that helped me get mine together.

Video of it in operation (I am NO cinematographer):

Link

_________________
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Dada as in dadaism.
Cheese as in the stuff I love to eat.

[Thin Metal]

Anyone wanting to order the SO42 water tank replacement from Inca plastics in Southern California.The order tank part number is the"10"model. Under $150.00 for cost.

[oldbusboy]

I just emailed them at [email protected] and got a bounce back.. I called and got a message and have sent an email to another address.. will keep everybody updated.

Has anybody ordered recently?

Trevor
_________________
1958 kombi
1968 porsche

[oldbusboy]

.. just got a response:

Hi Trevor,

That #10 water tank is available. Cost is $125.00 plus shipping. This tank would ship within one week.


If you would like to get one coming, just send me your zip code and I’ll send you an invoice with shipping that you can pay online.
_________________
1958 kombi
1968 porsche

[oldbusboy]

[iamdonquixote]

liking the music in the video,
when I saw Morphine live I had never heard of them , afterwards everyone at the show kept asking if that was for real.

also Dada, thanks for putting all the info in one place, I have an so42 that will appreciate this.

[srfndoc]

I made up a replacement for the original drain piece for the water tank. It consists of 3 parts (all from HD) and ends up being about the same size/function as the original and works great with the Inca Plastics tank:

Original on right for comparison

Parts Used:

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RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches

[Peter T.]

I tried to find Inca Plastics using the link from above and it doesn't work. Is there a different link or address?

[srfndoc]

[Peter T.]

[von_hansel]

[BarryL]

Pretty.

You probably already know this but if you leave the handle in the fully pumped position it keeps the pump primed (usually). If you push the handle backward it drains the pump so it won't freeze.

[Peter T.]

[Peter T.]

[Peter T.]

Looks like Go Westy sells the filler tube as well.

https://www.gowesty.com/product/faucets-plumbing/24809/water-tank-filler-tube

[BulliBill]

[srfndoc]

Pretty sure the pump with two screw holes like the original is no longer available. I've found other that look the same but have three screws mounting it to the top.
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RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches