Really Old Gas

[Checkers]

Dude, you're not dumb haha. Not everyone knows how to work on things and hey, we all started somewhere!

First off, that Beetle is effing sick!



1. Disconnect the wire that is plugged into the fuel level sending unit. (Wire that is plugged into the VDO sending unit located directly in the top of the tank.) It looks like your may actually twist and pull out?

2. Disconnect the small vent hose that is connected right below the filler cap.

3. Remove all 4 bolts that hold the tank itself down. (They are directly on top on each corner of the tank.)

4. Remove the gas cap.

5. This is the hardest part. Make sure you have a large catch can! I use a big oil drain pan from Wal-Mart.

They are around $10.
Get the car on jack stands so you have plenty of room underneath.
Look underneath the tank, you will see one or two hoses coming out towards the back of the tank.
Loosen the hose clamps or whatever is holding the hoses on and place the drain pan underneath.
Now, it's fun time! Get the hell out of the way and reach up and pull one hose off. Get your hand out of the way and wipe off any gas you gt on you quickly with a rag. The shit burns after a bit if you leave it on your skin so wiping it off is best!
Let it drain and keep and eye on the catch can.
When it get's about 75% full get the hose back on where it was and dump the can. Repeat until empty!

6. Remove the other hose attached to the bottom of the tank if there is one. Then remove the tank from the car!

[Checkers]

Ok so now the actual cleaning!
Go buy some marbles. Just maybe 3 handfuls worth. Doesn't matter how cheap, they are just getting thrown away later.
Remove the fuel sending unit from the tank if it's not already out. Then tape anything shut with duct tape that is an opening besides the filler spout.
Empty the marbles into the filer spout and start shaking and pissing off the neighbors. Shake for a few minutes then empty it out. If nothing comes out then that's a good thing!
Either way rinse with a little gasoline the next time and empty it out.
If it's still dirty repeat until you have clean gasoline coming out!

If it's rusty then let me know and I'll tell you what to do next before putting it back in!

[bigmontana]

Thanks for the step by step instructions. So I don't unscrew the whole fuell sending unit cap, just thewire? I tried to unscrew the cap and it would not budge, of course it has never been messed with for 45 years so that might have something to do with it. i'll borrow some Jack stands and a jack since I don't have any of my own (I need to get some) Where is a good place to jack the car?

Thanks for the complement, I love the car. I'm hoping to get it running so I can drive it through next summer. In that time I want to save up for a new 1600 or 1641 motor, and I need to convert it to 12 volt and I need a newpaint job and interior work, but first thing is first, I need to remove the gas tank and clean it. I'll do that next weekend. I don't have a lot of time during the week to get it in the air since I have to do this outside.

I'll follow your directions to a t and call you if I have problems. Thanks for the help.

Hopefully I'll have that tank out next weekend. I can't work on it this weekend I'm going east to see the fam. I'm missing my wife and son pretty bad.

[Checkers]

Sounds good man! You can just unplug the wire from the sending unit to get it out but the marbles will possibly damage the VDO if it's still in when you clean it so try to get it out. Good luck man!
Hopefully your house sells so they can move down here with you!
Also, next time I come to Billings I'll buff the car for you and help you do a few things for sure!

[76scirocco]

If the tank has a nasty varnish build up in the bottom, give me a shout and we can steam it out.

[bigmontana]

Thanks guys foir all of your help and thanks Stoney for helping on it if you are here. I'm going to try to get it out, now does the VDO pop out or turn out. I tried it both ways and it di not budge of course 45 years is a long time to sit. Any tools I can use to help assist me. Where's the best place to jack the bug without wreaking havoc to any metal. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Checkers]

Jack right under where the shocks mount to.
And I have no idea how the vdo comes out! Samba it.

[bigmontana]

I Samba'd those questions. Hopefully I'll get an answer. I'm going to try it again this weekend. We will see. Otherwise I'm going to need some help. But I'll try it first, I want to learn. Do you think just two jack stands will work or will I need 4?

[kompressorgolf]

X2 man youre beetle is the dopest! get that thing buffet asap!

[bigmontana]

Thanks, it has been in my family for 45 years, and will for another 45. There are some really cool stories with this car. As soon as Stoney can come down we will. I don't buff anything afterI almost killed myself when I was detailing at a dealership. So I avoid it. The bonet is black because after I wrecked it for the second time in high school my dad just got one unpainted and painted some sparay paint on it. But believe it or not there is still some shine to it on the left side. There is also a big dent on the shiniest fender, the left rear one. Because I got into a fight with a fence in high school with it. Oh the memories. I'll let you guys know how the tank removal process goes tomorrow.