Rabbit: drop and flush diesel tank

[Gnarlodious]

Car hasn’t run for 26 years, cleaning out the fuel tank. Any page telling how to remove the tank? What can I expect that needs replacing? Any advice on what to rebuild, parts I need on hand, a repair kit or procedure?
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit

[TDCTDI]

If I remember correctly, you have to unbolt the rear axle beam pivots from the body so you can remove the exhaust & then it’s just the two straps that hold it in.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[bvolks]

It's easier if you also unhook the rear rubber brake hoses but I have done it without taking them off.
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1985 Diesel Jetta Coupe (temporarily retired at
756,000 km)
1971 Doublecab project
1995 Golf CL
1974 Beetle
1978 Westfalia

[sgnimj96]

if it's got bad rust in the tank it will tend to keep clogging the fuel system. You can buy a new tank for a mk1 rabbit pretty cheap if you need to.
https://www.autozone.com/fuel-delivery/fuel-tank/s...hText=vw4c

The pickup tanks are a different story, can't find those anywhere.

[Butcher]

If I was going to touch the rear brake hoses, I would replace them. Once I had new hoses in hand and they appear to work, I would cut the old hoses and replace them while the axle is out.

The axle is really not hard to remove. The only issues is the hardware. If it can turn, you're ok. If not, do not break the studs off. You'll regret it.