Aircooled VW South Africa

Hi guys

has anyone heard of plastic /fibre glass fuel tanks for beetles ,this would be a great upgrade since there are alot of problems with the stock steel ones
eventually when they rust this usually causes the tank either to leak or the fuel contaminated with the rust .This runs through the fuel lines right up to your fuel pump and carburettor which causes some issues .First of all the car sputters and doesn't take off very well ,idles rough ,moves like and
then we start fiddling with our carbs ,timing ,points and condenser ,new fuel filter ,clean out carb hoping something would be the cause of the problem .

The last thing we fail to check is the fuel tank .
Have drained my tank out and plugged all the holes ,filled it up with about a litre of rust remover and rotated the tank all round about every hour or so .
Also gave it a few good shakes to loosen up the rust .Did this for about a week .
then drained the tank and washed it out thoroughly with water ,you guys wouldn't believe what came out .
Alot of rust thats what .
While i was at it cleaned up the pipe that goes to the fuel pump underneath the tank and the filter too .

After all this was done ,if you had a look inside the tank it was pretty clean .
Fitted the tank on flushed out the lines with compressed air ,new filter ,cleaned carb .
Till now my bug is running great ,no trouble at all .


But how long will this last ,read about a type of coating/sealer for the interior of the tank and how it was done .
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/add ... ewall.html

any other suggestions will be appreciated

thanks .

I have notice in my visits to the local VW guru's that they have a gas tank sealer kit on the shelve. Here is a link to it..
http://www.eastwood.com/gas-tank-sealer-kits.html
They say it works, well it must because otherwise they will not use it.

Don't know if we get it here .

http://www.wantitall.co.za/POR-15-FUEL- ... B001NG8I8G

Do not know why you would want to blow that much cash.

If you look up on my Fastback thread, you will find I sealed my tank for a fraction of the price, and its still perfect.
Even did the beetle tank at the same time, as you can do 2 tanks with the product.

Herman

will check it out Herman if i only knew earlier ,o well will try it on my 1303 tank .

I bought a fibreglass tank for a buggy a while ago will check if I can speak to the supplier and ask then if they interrested to make some more

Bugger wrote:I bought a fibreglass tank for a buggy a while ago will check if I can speak to the supplier and ask then if they interrested to make some more

that would be good .
thanks

I've been working on my own fibreglass tank and there's really not much to it. I have about R800 in it so far....

flatfourfan wrote:I've been working on my own fibreglass tank and there's really not much to it. I have about R800 in it so far....

well done buddy when you done with it post a few pics for usto
see.

I've been working on it for a while and kept it under wraps, but we're pretty much done and I'm sure that it'll impress a few purists.

This may sound pedantic, but is not so intended.

Not sure how you made it, and am not directing abuse at you at all, just a friendly reminder.

Fiber Glass is hygroscopic, and will absorb all liquids, especially petrol.

The only way to seal Fiber Glass is to seal on the liquid side, with Gel Coat, and paint (or more correctly, clear coat)

For gel Coat to be effective, it must be shielded from air during curing.

So when making a FG tank, one would have to seal it with a Petrol tolerant epoxy coating, on the inside.

If not, it will "sweat" petrol.

Herman

Have a fiberglass tank on my chopper 2 words doesn't work

Bugger wrote:I bought a fibreglass tank for a buggy a while ago will check if I can speak to the supplier and ask then if they interrested to make some more

Got it from Volkspares and they do not seem to want to make again

You may as well seal your existing tank using Herman's method, easiest method and most cost effective. I treated a bike tank this way with superb results. Thank you Herman!