Date:         Thu, 13 Jul 2000 15:12:24 -0400
Reply-To:     David Ricketts <david@renaissance-design.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Ricketts <david@renaissance-design.com>
Subject:      Bus Depot Fuel Tanks
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Since I asked so many questions about the fuel tanks from Bus Depot, I
thought I should at least tell everyone about my experience.

Dealer tank is $500 Bus Depot is $170.  Dealer tank does have some half
hearted baffles, didn't think to look in Bus Depot, but the gauge dips
when I turn corners indicating to me no baffles, or small ones.  Bus
Depot drop ships them so they can't go and look at one and tell you if
they have them.

There is a question between 50mm and 70mm intake sizes.  Once again
since they are dropped shipped, they cant answer any specific
questions.  Their recommendation is to measure the hole in the tank when
it is out.  This is unfortunate since once you get the tank out you
would like to put the new one in right away.  There IS a solution,
however!  Since the filler tube goes INTO the hole in the tank, you can
measure the filler tube diameter at the tank with the tank in the car.
This measurement will neither be 50mm nor 70mm, since there is a sealing
gasket around the edge of the tank  where the pipe goes in.  You can
determine which one it is, since the OD of the filler will be less than
50mm if it is a 50mm hole or between 50mm and 70mm if it is a 70mm
hole.  Mine measured 62 mm and was indeed a 70mm tank.

Shipping - the tanks aren't shipped well, i.e. they are put in a single
layer cardboard box and shipped with nothing else.  Bus Depot has
experienced these pains and now only ships priority mail, since they
seem to be gentler.  My tank had 2-3 dents in addition to 2 dents on the
seam/edge.  These actual split apart the lip of the two haves but didn't
seem to damage the weld (it doesn't leak).

Fuel sender - I also bought a new fuel sender from Bus Depot, which
worked, but not with the stock O-ring, the mechanic took one from a
transmission, I think, and made it fit. (problem is stock O-ring is too
thick).

Fit - the tank fits fine, except that the breather tubes will need to be
bent and 'stretched' a little to make everything connect, but not a big
job.

Recommendations - Buy a tank from Bus Depot. You can't beat the price,
and the problems are typical of any non-dealer part.  It would be nice
if Bus Depot could workout better shipping arrangements.  Also, My
mechanic got all new accessories from the dealership.  This ran me
another $160.  I recommend getting all of the seals Bus Depot sells and
the filler pipe ($125 from the dealer, but is a new improved design and
seals alot better).  Mine was rusted (along with the tank).  To do a
'factory' install you will still need a few parts from the dealer, such
as the foam pads that the tank sits on and some seals for the cross over
tubes.  Or just use your old ones.

Conclusions.  Bus Depot offers us a good deal on an OK part. Wish they
could be better informed about the parts (how to tell 50mm or 70mm) and
provide better shipping (this is really the manufacture's fault, since
they are drop shipped Bus Depot isn't involved, however, they get my
money so they are first in line for criticism).

Let me know if anyone has any questions.

David