| Author |
Message |
alaskadan
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013
Posts: 1858
Location: anchor pt. alaska
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:24 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
 |
|
| It's been awhile since I did mine, I used a construction workers flat bar. I feel lucky mine came out fairly easily. Doesn't bringing down the pass side an inch or two allow it to move to the pass side just a little? I've only done it once but I seem to recall fighting it a bit and then it moved over and popped out. Leaving the insulation off made it easier to replace. Good luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
|
|
Victory is mine!
And I’ll add this job to my short list of things I never want to do again…
In the end I used a thin plastic cutting board between the left rear side of the tank and frame member. That helps the insulation not get hung up. I went to a longer piece of fence post. And I had to go stud by stud on the sender to deform the tank inward so they could pass that frame member. It took about 30 minutes to git er dun.
Inside that fuel tank is a total mess of who knows what.
Only a thick tarry substance tries to come out of the drain.
And what idiot engineer speced such long studs here? When I replace the tank I will cut down those studs flush with the nuts. All new of course.
Thank you everyone for your encouragement.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3054
Location: MD
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:13 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
|
|
Disgusting!
Now the easy task of reassembly and re-installation! 
_________________
'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
valvecovergasket
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018
Posts: 1492
Location: pnw
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
|
|
| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
A second pair of hands with a second crowbar can work wonders. You're at the hardest spot, a few more inches and it'll be out!
Just keep prying! |
this
tank pull is definitely one of the worst jobs under there.
two sets of hands with a lot of prybars. and dont be afraid to really give 'er
_________________
MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com
gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
|
|
| valvecovergasket wrote: |
| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
A second pair of hands with a second crowbar can work wonders. You're at the hardest spot, a few more inches and it'll be out!
Just keep prying! |
this
tank pull is definitely one of the worst jobs under there.
two sets of hands with a lot of prybars. and dont be afraid to really give 'er |
Thank you for the encouragement. Please look two posts up. 
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
alaskadan
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2013
Posts: 1858
Location: anchor pt. alaska
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
|
|
Nice.  . That's some serious grogus coming outta there. How's the body behind the tank? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 12:10 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
|
|
For going back in, would it make any sense opening up the firewall and doing it from inside? Flanges could be welded to the cutout so screws or bolts for closing.
I know my opening isn't big enough, but it sure has made slave cylinder, starter motor and other stuff a super amount easier. Plus the insulation wouldn't get trashed.
Duncan |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5078
Location: denver
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 7:12 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
|
|
Congrats!
You'll still need all of your prying implements for installation, but IIRC it's a much easier job from a leverage standpoint. Plus everything's nice and clean.
That firewall looks great!
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
valvecovergasket
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018
Posts: 1492
Location: pnw
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:12 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
|
|
| dobryan wrote: |
| valvecovergasket wrote: |
| 4Gears4Tires wrote: |
A second pair of hands with a second crowbar can work wonders. You're at the hardest spot, a few more inches and it'll be out!
Just keep prying! |
this
tank pull is definitely one of the worst jobs under there.
two sets of hands with a lot of prybars. and dont be afraid to really give 'er |
Thank you for the encouragement. Please look two posts up. |
too late to the party!
congrats
getting it in is a bit of a wrestle as well but at least you know now that it fits
_________________
MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com
gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Seajeff
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2011
Posts: 5
Location: Seattle, Wa
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:20 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed (Solved) |
|
|
I am reading all of these posts for words of encouragement and to pump myself up.... I have dropped the engine, transmission, and cleared every hose and wire that I can in preparation for this wonderful experience of dropping the fuel tank, which I hope to start in the next day or two.
How did the reinstall go? One of the concerns I have is keeping the myriad of hoses ontop of the fuel tank organized as I'm brute forcing the tank up and into place.
Also, I read another thread about using a gasket sealer (like loctite 518) on the fuel hose to metal pipe. Is sealant used with good luck on any of the other components or generally avoided/not needed? (Specifically, say around the sender unit gaskets or the press-in tip-over valves.
I may share some photos and tips with others too if helpful, not looking forward to this job, but trying to keep everything in a semi-positive "I will learn something from it" approach |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 9:43 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed (Solved) |
|
|
| Seajeff wrote: |
I am reading all of these posts for words of encouragement and to pump myself up.... I have dropped the engine, transmission, and cleared every hose and wire that I can in preparation for this wonderful experience of dropping the fuel tank, which I hope to start in the next day or two.
How did the reinstall go? One of the concerns I have is keeping the myriad of hoses ontop of the fuel tank organized as I'm brute forcing the tank up and into place.
Also, I read another thread about using a gasket sealer (like loctite 518) on the fuel hose to metal pipe. Is sealant used with good luck on any of the other components or generally avoided/not needed? (Specifically, say around the sender unit gaskets or the press-in tip-over valves.
I may share some photos and tips with others too if helpful, not looking forward to this job, but trying to keep everything in a semi-positive "I will learn something from it" approach |
I am not at the reinstall stage. Got lots to do before then. 
Let me know how yours goes.
I can say that on the tank removal the part that held me up the most was getting the studs for the fuel level sender to clear the lip of the frame member, you'll see what I mean when you get to that part. It took a LOT more force than I thought to push in the side of the tank enough to get the studs to clear. It also took a 4 foot piece of fence post to pry the tank down as I pried the tank side in. If you can have a friend help it would likely go smoother. Now that I have done it once I'll know better but this is really a job I only want to do once in this lifetime.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed (Solved) |
|
|
Sooo one should remove the fuel tank sender before dropping the tank.. and after reinstalling the tank then?
_________________
| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Microbusdeluxe
Samba Member
Joined: July 26, 2003
Posts: 980
Location: Bellingham, WA
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed (Solved) |
|
|
You might want to think about replacing the old water and oil soaked insulation with something else. I know Go Westy sells some stick on foil heat shield that's made for the syncro fuel tank. It's thinner than the old stuff which helps on reinstallation and if you ever get bored and want to repeat the removal job!!
_________________
'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
16CVs
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2004
Posts: 4026
Location: Redwood City, California
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed (Solved) |
|
|
Why not just Re install the tank with the sender out? It is easy to install with the tank in the van.
You could calibrate it out of the van and then install it after. I've done numerous sender installs in Syncros and just plain 4WD vans as well and thought it to be straight forward.
Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.
Last edited by 16CVs on Sun Dec 19, 2021 5:36 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
