• From: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Registered: 2005-09-10
  • Posts: 2,318

Re: Replace Fuel Line

burrhead wrote:

All I am saying is that let's be realistic on the time of replacing stuff on these old cars. Sure SOME can do it in that time but probably not on the first or second try.
I can replace all 4 ball joints on the car in under 1 hour, starting with the car on the ground and ending up with the car on the ground. Or replacing a generator in under 1/2 hour with all 4 backing bolts in place with the engine in the car. But it took me many years to  be able to do this. And most the time you have some obstacle  or Murphey in the way to screw things up.
Stuck nut jim? HHHMMM

Plus there's always the strategy...even if you're able to do it fast...doesn't mean you have to. wink 

Just sit back...relax...do a little VW work...drink a beer.  Do a little work...drink a beer.  Repeat, repeat, repeat! wink

- Nick

p.s. Of course it doesn't have to be beer...my beverage of choice is a Coke/Pepsi. smile

1979 Super Beetle Convertible
  • From: City of Roses
  • Registered: 2004-03-29
  • Posts: 793

Re: Replace Fuel Line

Hiya All,

Burr has hit on a very important point (for me at least).

He makes the point that practice makes perfect (or darn close). 

For those yokels like me who do not have his wrenching hours I've found that going slow has big time advantages.  I limit my wrenching to about one hour at any given session.  I'll also stop if I'm switching to another task or procedure.  That gives me a chance to do two things.  I can reflect over what I've just done thinking about issues like "Was this task actually completed ? - Is there any more I have to do?" and "How could I have done this better?"  Then I start thinking about the upcoming task.  I take a look in my manuals (especially true for jobs that pop up infrequently like rear wheel bearings) and run through the procedures mentally.

Going slow, concentrating on what I'm doing, reflecting, and planning has saved me more grief than I can tell.

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck
  • Eric
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-07-11
  • Posts: 43

Re: Replace Fuel Line

Hi, everyone  (I'm the original poster)

thanks for all the input...  I'm going to try and replace the fuel line the correct way  smile

If I get stuck, I'll definately ask for help  smile

I'm almost ready for that step...


.

1968 VW  Karmann Ghia Convertible
  • From: somewhere over the rainbow USA
  • Registered: 2006-07-26
  • Posts: 1,882

Re: Replace Fuel Line

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

burrhead

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.
  • Eric
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-07-11
  • Posts: 43

Re: Replace Fuel Line

Just to add...  I called Johns Bug Shop and asked how he would do it if I had their shop do it for me...

he said that they wouldn't run it in the main tube... he said that even their shop would just run it around the car around the perimeter of the floor boards just behind the outer heater box channel...

what does everybody make of that???

smile

1968 VW  Karmann Ghia Convertible
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Registered: 2005-09-10
  • Posts: 2,318

Re: Replace Fuel Line

Eric wrote:

Just to add...  I called Johns Bug Shop and asked how he would do it if I had their shop do it for me...

he said that they wouldn't run it in the main tube... he said that even their shop would just run it around the car around the perimeter of the floor boards just behind the outer heater box channel...

what does everybody make of that???

smile

Sounds to me like they're taking what would seem to be the "easy" route.  Hopefully they're at least going to use metal line!!!

Considering the business's name is "John's Bug Shop"...I would sure hope that they are aware of how to do the "best" fuel line replacement being thru the inside of the tunnel.

Another thing is...I'm not exactly sure how they would be running the fuel line.  But I don't think I would want a fuel line running along side the heater channels (or anything else related to the heating system.  That stuff can get pretty darn hot if the heating system is working correctly.

If they ran the fuel line on the outside of the tunnel (in the passenger compartment & using metal line)...that would be safer.

- Nick

1979 Super Beetle Convertible
  • Registered: 2009-06-25
  • Posts: 554

Re: Replace Fuel Line

Bug In My Nose wrote:

But I don't think I would want a fuel line running along side the heater channels (or anything else related to the heating system.  That stuff can get pretty darn hot if the heating system is working correctly.

That was the first thing that jumped out at me; fuel line and heater channel? I've reheated tacos on those things!

  • Eric
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-07-11
  • Posts: 43

Re: Replace Fuel Line

hahaha... ok... well I'm going to buy some stainless steel fuel line tomorrow (1/4 inch...) and see what I can do in 15 minutes  smile

It's going in for paint in a couple weeks so I have some time...

,

1968 VW  Karmann Ghia Convertible
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 15

Re: Replace Fuel Line

Ran new line in the tunnel of my 73 super which had no inspection plate to take off in the front
It took longer to cut the hole make a cover plate and drill and tap the bolt holes than it did to run the new line, but it was worth it. Ive seen people run fuel hose from the front to the back before just to get by, but thats just asking for trouble.