Common candidates for fuel smell

[avoll]

[Wildthings]

There are two screws underneath on each side that need to come out, IIRC. The firewall has a tacky foam strip between it and the body, so even with the screws all removed it can take some prying to get it to come free.

[mfemenel]

ok last question (tell me if I'm being lazy). Is it possible just to pull the old neck off and put a new one on without pulling the filler out? Or am I better off to pull it out, clamp the new one on...'the right way'.
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'79 Westy FI/AC/Auto
'78 Tin Top FI/Manual
'71 Ghia Coupe Project - FOR SALE!

[avoll]

Im not 100%, but I think you pull it all out and clamp it, then push it up and grab the rubber that gets screwed in around your gas cap, and pull it out.
I pulled everything out when I did it, and can't remember. I wouldn't let my kids ride in it with gas smell, so I went through everything.
I would say if you dont clamp it right, your prob going to get vapors if its not air tight.
I was amazed how much gas smell you can get from a little crack in the filler neck.

Like others said also, you might want to go through and replace fuel lines if there old lines. You dont want gas leaking and causing a fire.

[Wildthings]

Pull it out and mark on the pipe the orientation of the seam in the rubber. Install the new elbow to match the mark. Since you are already in there and don't want to be going back in again anytime soon, change the boot between the tank and filler tube as well. The Mercedes/Dodge Sprinter boot works well and should last for decades. It is a tad too small in diameter and can be a beast to get on though. A tad of Vasoline or dish soap may help as can an exhaust pipe spreader from Harbor Freight.

[Jetfxr69]

Two screws on the bottom, outboard of the tank strap bolts. They are tucked up and hard to see. Sorry, no pic
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You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa

‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson

[mfemenel]

Man, they did not make it easy to find those damn things. Here's what I did, maybe it helps someone else. I dropped some flourescent orange string between the engine compartment seal as far to each corner as I could so I had a point of reference when I was underneath. Between that and the pictures online I was able to find them.
Step 2, get them out. Well I only got the passenger side so far, it's about to rain here and I don't really want to lay in the driveway in puddles to do this right now. For the passenger side (it's the easier one) I used two extensions to make 15 inches. One of the extensions was flexible so I could get around a few things. Worked for me but I'd caution anyone against this if their screws are in there tight. I would imagine any stuck screws would strip out pretty easily if you're using a flexible head. I didn't need much torque to move the passenger side. Magnetic phillips head socket would have been useful but not required. Mine was not magnetic.
On a nicer night I'll have to jack up the driver side and make an attempt. Not enough room with the bus on the ground to get that one. At least not for me.

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'79 Westy FI/AC/Auto
'78 Tin Top FI/Manual
'71 Ghia Coupe Project - FOR SALE!

[Jetfxr69]

Piece of cake with the engine and trans out. Just saying
_________________
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa

‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson

[mfemenel]

Foot long screwdriver and jacking up the driver side made that last screw pretty simple. Got the firewall pried open, good enough. Glad I ordered a new piece from the tank to the neck. All cracked. Definitely a contributor some of the smell and depending on how those cracks go underneath, may have leaked some fuel.
Bus Depot is late getting my stuff to me so it'll sit for the weekend. I'll drain the tank as best I can and change my fuel filters. I don't want to open the tank up until I have the new parts on hand.

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'79 Westy FI/AC/Auto
'78 Tin Top FI/Manual
'71 Ghia Coupe Project - FOR SALE!

[Jetfxr69]

ive used the Ratwell fix:

1 ft. of 2 1/4" Filler hose to tank hose, NAPA 1055 NBH GAS HOSE

works fine, you just have to cut it at an angle due to the slight bend between the tank and tube. couple of “good” ( not the cheap one) hose clamps and done. i think the last time I bought one it was $30 and its long enough for two pieces.
_________________
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa

‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson

[ToolBox]

[mfemenel]

Got it out! New stuff arrives today.
Lessons Learned:
Make sure the hose from the tank to the pipe is off on both ends. Don't try to disconnect from the tank and pull it out with the hose still still attached to the pipe. Those extra few inches make a difference. Size matters

If you have to, use a razor knife to cut the hose off. Mine was solidly adhered to the pipe. Do this with the filler neck still in the inlet so it doesn't twist & move. Careful cutting by the tank opening, not to drop any rubber pieces in there.

Go back and to the right to get enough space to get out the pie hole.
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'79 Westy FI/AC/Auto
'78 Tin Top FI/Manual
'71 Ghia Coupe Project - FOR SALE!

[mfemenel]

Putting it back in question. I don't have enough room to get it back in if I leave the tank to pipe gasket on. Has anyone been able to do this?
Approaches..?
Put gasket on tank slide pipe in, attach?
No gasket to tank or pipe, just neck and then try to do both in vehicle? This seems nearly impossible.

Ideas/suggestions?

Edit:
Answered my own question. I put the hose on the tank. Slid the metal pipe back in with the new neck and pulled it through the gas cap opening and put 2 screws loosely back on to hold it in place. Then pushed the pipe onto the other end of the gas tank hose and clamped it down. PITA! I will say I'm not thrilled with the bus depot flavor of tank to pipe hose. It's really just a mercedes hose and I feel like 1/2 to 1 inch longer would have made it easier to get the filler pipe seated in solidly. Should be back on the road by wednesday after my new fuel filter shows up and a small test tank refill occurs.
_________________
'79 Westy FI/AC/Auto
'78 Tin Top FI/Manual
'71 Ghia Coupe Project - FOR SALE!

[mfemenel]

Last post on this one. Got everything back together, I had changed out my 2 fuel filters and started it up in the driveway. Gusher of a leak from the pump to filter #2 hose. Fortunately i had some on hand and it's all good now. Glad I was pessimistic about leaks and double checked everything before I got it off the stand and put the tire back on. Torrential rain now, test drive tomorrow but I think I'm good. Time to enjoy driving her for the summer now.
_________________
'79 Westy FI/AC/Auto
'78 Tin Top FI/Manual
'71 Ghia Coupe Project - FOR SALE!