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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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 Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 2:59 pm Post subject: Syncro fuel tank removal advice needed (Solved) |
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I am in the midst of removing the gas tank on the syncro.
My word what a biotch.
I understand from other topics and references that the drivers side needs to be lowered first and that the fuel level sender will hang up on the frame member. I am using the recommended 4 foot pry bar on the top of the tank and the 1 foot pry bar on the side to push in the sender so the studs will clear the frame member.
For the life of me after an hour I cannot get it past this point. I am so frustrated I am about to take a sawzall to the tank and make quick work of it.
Please give me advice on what I should be doing.
Help!
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'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
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Last edited by dobryan on Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:28 am; edited 1 time in total |
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dschaftlein
Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2016
Posts: 105
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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I think I ended up using a second prybay to push the sender area in towards the tank. the tank has a bit of flex, enough to make clearance for the studs... one at a time.
Make sure the opposite end is up and pushed over toward the passenger side as far as possible.
You may want to try removing the sender, than dropping the tank... I told myself I would try that if I ever had to do the job again.
Have fun getting it back in. Maybe have a spare vent valve ready (I broke one while wrestling with the tank back in. Of course I didn't notice until it was all back in place.
If you are replacing the sender, test it first. after reinstalling my tank I found out my new sender was NFG.
Have fun! |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12006
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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| Wrap some hard plastic, like a split laundry detergent bottle, around the frame rail. That gives things an opportunity to slip by vs grab on the frame rail. |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 4:43 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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Sure glad I don't got no Syncro. 1WD seems to work for me.
Duncan |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6832
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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Wear safety glasses to keep the crud out of your eyes.
Facemask isn't a bad idea either!
You could get extravagant and put the tsnk under vacuum pressure to shrink it a little!(that's just fantasy! 😁)
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9935
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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Exactly, slip a tough plastic sheet up between the sender studs and the frame rail so the studs can glide over the frame rail edges.
Do the same to reinstall the tank.
I cut the side off a coolant jug. Tough and slippery.
Mark
| syncrodoka wrote: |
| Wrap some hard plastic, like a split laundry detergent bottle, around the frame rail. That gives things an opportunity to slip by vs grab on the frame rail. |
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snowsyncro
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2009
Posts: 1557
Location: East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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You should put away the Sawzall. You would definitely regret that later.
It was a long time ago, but I did what syncrodoka is suggesting. I think I used a sheet of thin UHMW or nylon that I had here. Push it back up, and as dschaftlein suggested, get the far side up and as far to the PS as possible. The thin hard plastic helps keep the sender side from hanging up as badly.
I don't recall using a prybar on top of the tank, but as I said that was a while ago so I am not sure. And the connector was already broken on mine, and the screws and nuts completely rusted, so I was not too worried about damaging anything.
RonC |
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hardway
Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2012
Posts: 416
Location: Fidalgo Island
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 5:56 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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| Now you know why I call it the "Mother of all Fuel Tanks". |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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| DuncanS wrote: |
Sure glad I don't got no Syncro. 1WD seems to work for me.
Duncan |
same useless comments that the aircooled crowd says when they hear about a coolant leak on a van... wow glad I don't gots me one of those.. sounds like trouble...
/SMH. 
as for the OP issue, I keep those flexible cutting board 'sheets' handy for such things.. but a detergent bottle sounds slippery enough too. 
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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I'm not disparaging the Syncro. It is a fabulous vehicle for many. It's just not for me as I don't need its attributes nor expenses.
Duncan |
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photogdave
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Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3053
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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| DuncanS wrote: |
I'm not disparaging the Syncro. It is a fabulous vehicle for many. It's just not for me as I don't need its attributes nor expenses.
Duncan |
That's fine. So just don't post replies like you did in Syncro threads.
No offense, but it gets tiresome for Syncro owners looking for maintenance advice to see comments about how some Vanagon owners are so glad they don't own Syncros.
It's just not helpful.
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32625
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2021 10:05 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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| photogdave wrote: |
| DuncanS wrote: |
I'm not disparaging the Syncro. It is a fabulous vehicle for many. It's just not for me as I don't need its attributes nor expenses.
Duncan |
That's fine. So just don't post replies like you did in Syncro threads.
No offense, but it gets tiresome for Syncro owners looking for maintenance advice to see comments about how some Vanagon owners are so glad they don't own Syncros.
It's just not helpful. |
I get it, I see it happen a lot to people looking for WBX repair advice. What they so often get instead is ........ "put a Subaru in it".
Anyway...... back on track, looking forward to seeing that tank on the floor!
Hopefully it is empty of fluids........
And why do I see rust repair in your future?.........
Dave
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dobryan
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hans j
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
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Location: denver
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:24 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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This worked for me:
http://syncro.org/removing-the-syncro-gas-tank/
Good luck!
ETA: This post hole digger pole was the tool that finished the job:
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'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
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dobryan
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xoo00oox
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Joined: February 11, 2010
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Location: East Nassau, NY
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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| You've almost got it!, just keep pushing it toward the right side of the van as you pry it down. It is pretty tight but it really is not that bad of a job once you've done it a couple of times. A good quality long pry-bar is your friend for this job. |
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4Gears4Tires
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018
Posts: 3047
Location: MD
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Syncro tank removal advice needed |
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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!
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'87 Syncro
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