Early VW Beetle Fuel Tank Mods - DIY - The Sickxty - Volksrod Franken Beetle Baja Build - 52

[@vgmutah]

I have used the VDO mounting ring kit for fuel sender mounting in the past, which provides threaded mounting holes from inside the tank. I do like the more direct use of Rivet nuts, but I would be concerned about the rivets holding the seal up off the tank and not allowing for a tight seal on the sending unit flange. The stock seal is designed to lay flat against the tank surface, and it might not be thick enough to accommodate the rivets protruding from the tank surface. Check for leaks! If this does seal the fuel effectively I would be happy to use this idea!

[@VWJawbreaker]

I thought about using that mounting ring but figured the Riv buts would work the same and not have to mess with the ring. I did block off the breather and put some pressure on the tank…. Didn’t see any leaks around the fuel sender. Worse case, a little sealant or a softer gasket and problem solved.

[@bigalsvwratrod7346]

Getting better every time I see it! Brilliant job Gary 👍

[@VWJawbreaker]

Appreciate that Al!

[@TheEZGZ]

This is getting exciting. Love the AN fitting. Top notch all the way.😀

[@VWJawbreaker]

Haha, I have to agree…. I’m stoked on how everything is coming together. Wait till next week when I do a complete custom wiring harness and get everything working…. In one video! Hope you’re doing well!!

[@V8N8T]

Excellent work! I think those rivet nuts will work just fine:) reminds me of doing the tank in my bug with the fitech pump...no going back haha. High risk high reward!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks man! Funny, as I was drilling the hole in the tank your video popped into my brain 😂 Gotta love a plan coming together.

[@kevinhamling1963]

Excellent work. Your going to be the envy of so many when this is tearing up the black stuff. ✌️ Peace

[@VWJawbreaker]

Man I doubt it’ll be the envy but it’ll be unique! Appreciate you Kevin!!

[@vintagespeedvw7864]

Looking good Gary. That car will be fun.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks buddy. We’re on track for September!

[@mileageunknown8910]

Every vid I see can believe how cool this beast looks!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Oh just wait brother, it’s getting sicker 😎

[@JWClassicVW]

Looking good brother!! We were both doing fuel tank stuff... lol Dig the vent loop!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Haha, I saw that but got a work call and forgot to comment on your video!

[@eduardorodriguez3262]

Franken is looking better and better with each addition which gets it closer to completion Great job👍🇩🇪

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you buddy!

[@adamgray2720]

Like the tank setup. The paint job turned out really well. 👍👍

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks buddy, I appreciate it. It’s really coming together.

[@type4revolutionstudio]

I like the cylinder floats for early stuff looking good

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you sir, I appreciate you.

[@mrjynx23]

thanks man, this really answered a lot of questions i had and has taken some of the stress out of it.

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m glad the video helped you out. Just take a breath and go for it…. Worse that’ll happen is you’ll learn something new.

[@EmmettRacing]

That autometer gauge looks good, I’ve been thinking about upgrading mine.

[@VWJawbreaker]

It was this or nothing as I wasn’t about to spend the coin on the vintage speed option 😂

[@dubworldvwadventures]

Nice work as always Gary

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you sir.

[@royworks28]

Looking good , piece by piece. Definitely good flow going now.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Yes sir, seems things are coming together so much faster now. Loving this stage of the build.

[@69bajaoutdoors]

Tight work as always! Looking great!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Appreciate it sir!

[@douglasbarnhart3324]

Thanks for the video Gary.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you as always.

[@annies_vw]

wooo! getting the details put together. awesome work.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks Annie!

[@bobherman1249]

Great video! Concise, informative & entertaining! Keep up the good work.👍

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[@HubertusSchaper]

Nice work Gary🇺🇸👍🏻.🙏🏻Greetings.Hubertus🇳🇴🇳🇱☮

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you Hubertus!

[@atomicmellon1712]

This build just keeps getting better! Your vison is playing out quite nicely! I'm surprised that cap isn't internally vented. I thought that's what the serrated ribbon of metal around the internal edge was for.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks man, I appreciate that! The original cap was vented but I guess the aftermarket ones aren’t. I put the air compressor to the outlet fitting on the tank and the tank swelled up…. That cap definitely isn’t vented.

[@atomicmellon1712]

@@VWJawbreaker I guess come to think of it I've had the same issue with repop bus gas caps. They look to be constructed the same as original but I've had venting issues. I guess they really don't make 'em like they used to!

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@atomicmellon1712 that’s what we’ve been seeing time and time again…. Always smart to double check vs assume anymore.

[@easternWashington.]

It looks great but you might need a shroud around that vent filter if you decide to play in the mud.

[@VWJawbreaker]

That’s not a bad idea and should be easy enough to add.

[@robertbumgardner5549]

Im thinking of going the baja route the longer mine sits!

[@VWJawbreaker]

It’s easy to do that!

[@zimms-world]

Another great video with good progress and great ideas

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks buddy. How’s yours coming along?

[@zimms-world]

@@VWJawbreaker it’s slow but I’m making progress and that’s a good thing. Your videos have motivated and inspired me

[@VWJawbreaker]

That’s all that matters buddy. Proud of you for continuing to push forward.

[@Spidious]

Did you get rid of all the shavings in the tank when you drilled all that out ?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Sure did, shop vac works wonders.

[@dillyd3488]

The Sicxty is coming along so nice! Can't wait to see it when finished. I'm totally going to steal your Raptor liner color idea for my Baja.... Still no reduction boxes? 😆

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks man, excited to see it start to come together one thing at a time. Nope, didn’t have the reduction boxes at the time the trans was custom built.

[@garyjohnson4608]

Now that you have done all that cutting and drilling on the new tank, won't there be a bunch of metal fragments down in the bottom of the tank that will need to be removed ?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Yep…. Shop vac works great for that.

[@DemopVWgarage]

nice tank mod mate , might have to copy that for the 56 ;)

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks buddy. FYI, If you have the stock gas cap you shouldn’t need to vent the tank.

[@hummv8]

Nice job!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Appreciate it.

[@Spidious]

Make the vent hose follow the curve of the tank. It would need to be shorter, but look 100% better.

[@VWJawbreaker]

I ended up going with a shorter hose and it looks much better!

[@josepimentel6973]

It is really coming along better than I expected. You are a good overall mechanic even you always say you are not this or that! I own a 1974 Standard Beetle and new at this, but trying to do my best because I loved Beetles since when I was a young man. I have a couple of questions that I am having trouble deciding what to do in my situation. The nuts that mate with the Napoleon Hat and the Heaters Exchangers located at the front are rusted and all loose. The overall condition of the HE are not bad at all except for the place I mentioned before. Do you think this can be repaired and how? Or, will I need to replace the Heater Exchangers? Thank you for your time. Keep up your great job. Thank you before hand!

[@VWJawbreaker]

I appreciate the kind words. We all have different strengths and weaknesses but if we put our minds together we’re all stronger. As for your situation, it’s difficult to say what the best option would be. There’s a plate with 2 nuts inside the heater channel that the napoleon hat bolts to. The plate inside will move around a little, just like the plate for your doors in the body. Try running a tap into the nuts inside the heater channel and see if you can get the bolts to go in. If the front of the heater channels are rusted out, you could do either a full heater channel replacement or see if you can buy the front halves.

[@josepimentel6973]

@@VWJawbreaker I think that maybe the only option, because the nuts are all rusted and dancing around inside the Heaters Exchangers. Thank you for your time. I am in love with the wiring system you are installing in the Franken Beetle, it looks and seems simple to install, of course , for you. But for me I would probably need a diagram because I could never be able design it much less to be an easy install for me. HA,HA, well I will keep watching the master at work to try to learn all that I can. Thank you much! 😁

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@josepimentel6973 thanks man, I appreciate it 🤙 Best of luck with your project!

[@josepimentel6973]

I meant the nuts and bolts that connect each others ( the Napoleon Hat and the Heaters Exchangers). Please, see comment below. Thank you!

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’ll answer on your other post 🤙

[@dcmflydude6320]

I’d like to see a short video on the “paint” job since the body is on the chassis. I’m working on a 71 Ghia and have chassis rebuilt and about to do body work. Trying to decide on how to paint it and don’t want to spend many thousands on a paint job. 2 or 3 is ok. Anyone try the Linex ultra yet? I would like a “smooth” texture look.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Check the play list, there’s videos covering the interior paint and the exterior raptor liner.

[@vayabroder729]

Great great job, sir! I echo the comments above; I hope you vacuum off all that shrapnel! Did you just change the color of the house? 😉

[@VWJawbreaker]

Appreciate that sir! I took the shop vac to the tank the next time I had it out and got it all clean inside. Nice catch, just had the house painted!

[@vayabroder729]

@@VWJawbreaker House looks good! 😉👍

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@vayabroder729 thanks man!

[@sitwithabook]

1. Where did you get the tank? 2. Did you have issues with filings in fuel filter? How'd you clean it out?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Got the tank from CIP1 Nope because I cleaned the tank out with a shop vac and then a magnet. Then a good rinse afterwards with water and blew it out with compressed air.

[@davidgiesfeldt6650]

Just curious, did you use a wand magnet to get filing and drilling bits out of the tank?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Mostly a shop vac then the air compressor.

[@Volkswagenplanet]

It ain't long enough, that's what she said, or he. 😆 What about gas vapor smells? Not sure how they did it pre 68.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Pre 61 or so the gas cap was vented. 62 and later they added a port off of the tank to a vent tube that dumped out under the spare tire.

[@michaellarson7886]

Can you give me the part number for the fuel tank?

[@VWJawbreaker]

I don’t have it off hand but CIP1 has it.

[@type4revolutionstudio]

Franken crisp.......

[@VWJawbreaker]

Hopefully it doesn’t become a crisp!