My fuel tank is pretty rusty inside and doesnt have a "breather" installed in it. It simply has a filler hose over a cut short neck and a cap fitting flush against the bonnet.

Not entirely the best set up and it stinks of petrol from the front when the engines running. 

How'd I go about installing a breather? I was thinking about replace filler hose and add a brass inlet poked through, then sealed and feeding out somewhere under the car with a one way valve.

Or would I just be better getting a new tank, not having to worry about the rust etc and start from scratch. Installing a breather system properly like one of those bolt in jobs from demon tweeks? I dont fancy having the fill pipe sticking out from the shell but its always an option. Might look funny....

My tank is a 62-67 but mounted facing the wrong way, so fuel filler is bottom left of the car rather than top right...

I can see on this pic the breather outlet but obviously this has been cut off when first installed to shorten the pipe for a flush look.

Cant help with the breather question sorry, and I dont have a front mounted tank, but for my to pennies worth, if funds allow, I would go for a new tank, rather than having to mess with the rust etc.
At least you know every things going to be ok with it, now and for the future.

A central filer is better as it stops the fuel surge on cornering, acceleration etc from going up the filller and causing fuel spillage and thus smells and you can the use a vented cap with no problem the downside is another hole in the bonnet.
If you do go for a new tank it will want painting inside to stop corrosion by the modern fuel.
You could look at alternative tanks in stainless I am thinking Mike beelzedub on here was on about making some or there are the motor sport suppliers

[6 Pots...stuff your bhp, torque is king]

Personally, I think a custom tank is the way forward and stainless would be ideal.

I'm thinking about changing my tank over the winter this year. Ideally, I can design on that will be a better shape than the VW one, will have the outlet at the very bottom of the tank, I can install which ever sender I want (type 3 or Porsche....depends on the clocks I'm using...!)

It would probably take a bit of designing and I guess each tank you be individual to the buggy it was going in. You could probably have a design that would fit a particular body shell but you have to make allowances for other bits.....

Thanks for the help. I dont want to add in another hole to the bonnet, I guess it would be the best option but im not keen on it. 

About vented fuel caps... Can I just use one of them instead of a breather pipework?

vented cap i do

I used one of these from car builder solutions works fine as a central filler but whether it would allow fuel out due to cornering surge I have no idea. Pipe connection is the same size as the beetle filler soit fits in the hose.
82mm Locking Fuel Cap Assembly Satin ***Vented***

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Ok, so I have ordered a new fuel filler pipe, 6mm hose barb and some piping. Going to poke a tiny hole in the pipe for the hose barb and seal it good with some hylomar blue on both sides. then feed to the reae of the car. If this doesnt work I'll just go with a new vented fuel cap and get the new tank then as well.

I just dont like the strong smell of the fuel. Wasnt as strong now as it was before, but I had to change the sender, now its really bad. Bonnet off tonight and the feed hose is really badly perished. Should of replaced it first time around! Not the sender as thats a nice fit.

I guess the replacement beetle filler hoses may not be compliant with the new fuel so will rot, it would be worth asking when you buy one. I got an elbow from one of the rally suppliers for mine that is thick walled and modern fuel safe but was not cheap.
the original beetle ones from the 70's were lined with plastic like cellophane to reduce degradation.

you breather pipe needs to go as high as possible under the dash sloping up from the neck or take off side of the buggy to the other as this will reduce fuel spillage when full and any that gets into the pipe will run back in when the forces stop.

I got a bendy one from JJC Race & Rally. Neoprene lined apparently so should last a while ( I hope ) Yeah I was gonna route it up through the dash into the sidepods then up along them just poking out where the rear wheels are. Or I might see if I can run it into the inside of my roll bar as it has holes in the top for previous spot lamp wiring. Could be an idea

[6 Pots...stuff your bhp, torque is king]

A really interesting topic on tanks here. Very much liking the look of the tank from the plans....

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=369557&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=tank&start=20

That was a good read... Some interesting stuff going on there. Hopefully they will become available for retail soon... LIMEBUG! ya listening?! Haha...


Right, got it all replaced and what a headache that was. Decided to replace the fuel tank come Xmas time... With that I'll be replacing the 62' tank like for like. I will need to modify the breather system as the little pipe on the neck wont clear my bonnet.

Can you get locking filler caps for the 62 tanks?

looks like a more complicated version of the one i designed, and during autumn will hopefully finish. summer orders have been bonkers.

looks like a more complicated version of the one i designed, and during autumn will hopefully finish. summer orders have been bonkers.

I will be interested when you do get time to make them. Any idea what the cost will be.

Not yet bud.