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Today I started to remove the fuel tank and those pesky expansion tanks. ?I got the fuel filler neck out after shedding a bit of blood due to a nice scrape. ?The grommet on top of the expansion tank was rotted off and actually down inside the tank. ?No wonder I was always smelling gas. ?
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So next is removing the fuel tank itself and the plastic coolant pipes that run front to back. ?I believe the stainless pipes I purchased from Van Cafe are made to work with their conversion kit. ?
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In the meantime, I installed the clutch and pressure plate on the Subaru engine, torqued the bolts evenly to 22 ft lbs and, although I did not see it recommended in the RMW literature, I used a bit of blue thread locker on them. ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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How do you feel about the instructions so far? I’m not a fan. Also what clutch did you use and lastly where did you get the engine mounts? The dealer wants a million dollars for them here.
Thank you sir, great write up?
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On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 12:59?PM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
Today I started to remove the fuel tank and those pesky expansion tanks. ?I got the fuel filler neck out after shedding a bit of blood due to a nice scrape. ?The grommet on top of the expansion tank was rotted off and actually down inside the tank. ?No wonder I was always smelling gas. ?
?
So next is removing the fuel tank itself and the plastic coolant pipes that run front to back. ?I believe the stainless pipes I purchased from Van Cafe are made to work with their conversion kit. ?
?
In the meantime, I installed the clutch and pressure plate on the Subaru engine, torqued the bolts evenly to 22 ft lbs and, although I did not see it recommended in the RMW literature, I used a bit of blue thread locker on them. ?
?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
The instructions from RMW so far seem to be pretty good. ?I got the clutch kit from RMW, which is a Sachs kit. ?It came with the clutch, pressure plate, release bearing, pilot bearing, and the spline alignment tool. ?The pilot bearing is not needed because RMW’s flywheel already has the pilot bearing installed. As I mentioned, there was no suggestion to use blue thread locker on the bolts, but I did it anyway. ?
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I originally ordered my motor mounts from eBay but they were not the same. ?Now I can’t remember where I got the ones that actually matched the originals from the Subaru. ?But they were about $60 for the pair if I recall correctly. ?  ?
The one on the left was the one from eBay. ?It was listed as the same, but it was not the same size. ?It might have worked but I didn’t want to chance it so I returned them.
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The mounts I eventually purchased were identical to the originals. ?I will try to figure out where I purchase them. ?So many purchases!!!?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
After much struggling I got the fuel tank removed. ?My original intention was to remove it in order to install the stainless coolant lines, but as I got into the job it was obvious that all the hoses and fittings needed to be replaced. ?I’m thinking there won’t be a better time than now to take this on. ?So I will replace all the fittings and hoses. ?This is a California bus so there is no rust on the tank at all ( just lots of dirt). ?Tomorrow I will seal it up and powerwash it and paint it with a Rustoleum paint of some sort. ?Some people paint them with high zinc content paints, but I’m not sure that is necessary.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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John A. ?At what stage are you in your conversion? ?Seems like we’re running parallel projects here. ?I appreciate your comments and feedback. ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Oh man you’re not wrong. I put in my hopefully last dealer order this week. Some sensors, new coolant bypass pipe, the two small throttle body hoses etc and also got all of my new timing belt components. Pretty excited to slap the heads on.?
Sure would be nice if someone sold an actual complete kit, some of the items they don’t include are baffling. At the end of the day I went RMW because I didn’t like some of the things about the SC one, so I guess I shouldn’t complain.
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On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 7:03?PM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
The instructions from RMW so far seem to be pretty good. ?I got the clutch kit from RMW, which is a Sachs kit. ?It came with the clutch, pressure plate, release bearing, pilot bearing, and the spline alignment tool. ?The pilot bearing is not needed because RMW’s flywheel already has the pilot bearing installed. As I mentioned, there was no suggestion to use blue thread locker on the bolts, but I did it anyway. ?
?
I originally ordered my motor mounts from eBay but they were not the same. ?Now I can’t remember where I got the ones that actually matched the originals from the Subaru. ?But they were about $60 for the pair if I recall correctly. ?
?
The one on the left was the one from eBay. ?It was listed as the same, but it was not the same size. ?It might have worked but I didn’t want to chance it so I returned them.
?
?
The mounts I eventually purchased were identical to the originals. ?I will try to figure out where I purchase them. ?So many purchases!!!?
?
Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
Please let me know if any of my experiences in this process can be of benefit to you! ?Essentially all of us doing these conversions are in this together.?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
a permanent fuel tank solution is possible
 Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306
After much struggling I got the fuel tank removed.? My original intention was to remove it in order to install the stainless coolant lines, but as I got into the job it was obvious that all the hoses and fittings needed to be replaced.? I’m thinking there won’t be a better time than now to take this on.? So I will replace all the fittings and hoses.? This is a California bus so there is no rust on the tank at all ( just lots of dirt).? Tomorrow I will seal it up and powerwash it and paint it with a Rustoleum paint of some sort.? Some people paint them with high zinc content paints, but I’m not sure that is necessary.
?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306
a permanent fuel tank solution is possible
 Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306
After much struggling I got the fuel tank removed.? My original intention was to remove it in order to install the stainless coolant lines, but as I got into the job it was obvious that all the hoses and fittings needed to be replaced.? I’m thinking there won’t be a better time than now to take this on.? So I will replace all the fittings and hoses.? This is a California bus so there is no rust on the tank at all ( just lots of dirt).? Tomorrow I will seal it up and powerwash it and paint it with a Rustoleum paint of some sort.? Some people paint them with high zinc content paints, but I’m not sure that is necessary.
?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
That looks great! ?Let us know how well it works, how difficult to install, etc.?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Did mine like that 13? years ago and no issues..Just did it on a friends?van last week, also smooth install.? Its nice since its all pre-set?tp push?up, just connect the one crossover and since its flexible its easy. Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306
That looks great!? Let us know how well it works, how difficult to install, etc.?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
Bled my new tensioner today. I’ve never heard of doing this but apparently it’s a thing. Tried the old one too as a test and it was a bit easier to compress but not much. Likely was ok.?
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On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 9:15?PM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
That looks great! ?Let us know how well it works, how difficult to install, etc.?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Sure, but good luck with any kind of warranty claim. I showed Gates a collapsed cogged idler from a Gates Kit and all I got was crickets. It was SKF too! Luckily, no engine damage.
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I really doubt the veracity of any warranty from any manufacturer on any of the parts I purchase. ?It’s just a reality of today’s world that many (most) big companies just don’t care. ?So I approach every purchase as a “buyer beware” type of thing.
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John, I bled my tensioner as well, but it sure was a slow process and I’m not sure I went as slow as they recommend. ?But remember, if you don’t install it right away, I think you should store it right side up (as in the orientation that it will be installed), just to keep any air bubbles from migrating to the wrong place.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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So today, as I promised myself I would do, I power washed my fuel tank. ?It is in such good condition that I only painted the bottom because of a few scratches. ?It seems to have a rubberized coating on it and no rust, so I just pushed the easy button.
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I installed new grommets and cut new vent lines and attached everything with oetiker (ear) clamps. ?Strangely, the ball that was at the end of the filler was missing, but I heard something rolling around inside the tank. ?It was the ball! ?So after much trial and error, I used a long piece of metal with sticky aluminum tape on it to retrieve the ball and put it back in its carrier. ?I’ve seen videos where there is no ball at all, but my guess is that in many of those “missing ball” situations the ball is in fact floating around in the tank.
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The little ball before extraction.
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I had also purchased a new send in unit, even though my fuel tank registered properly before. ?So after some thought I decided to use my original send in unit and just use the new green o-ring. ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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lol I stored it exactly that way, with an arrow on the box.?
And yes warranty is meaningless with most. RMW did send me a new adapter plate as the one in my kit was made poorly so I was happy about that and offered to ship me bolts as the ones for my crossover were way too long so they’ve been decent that way. I ordered my timing belt kit from six star Bernie as he uses all Japanese oem but stuff can def still fail.?
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On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 6:36?PM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
I really doubt the veracity of any warranty from any manufacturer on any of the parts I purchase. ?It’s just a reality of today’s world that many (most) big companies just don’t care. ?So I approach every purchase as a “buyer beware” type of thing.
?
John, I bled my tensioner as well, but it sure was a slow process and I’m not sure I went as slow as they recommend. ?But remember, if you don’t install it right away, I think you should store it right side up (as in the orientation that it will be installed), just to keep any air bubbles from migrating to the wrong place.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
Got the water pump and the piece above it (pulley mount ? And backing for the timing belt cover) on today as well as the PS pump mount for the alternator. I need to fabricate up a mount for the alternator cover but it’s starting to come together, piece by piece
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On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 8:02?PM John A via groups.io <xstreamcanadian@...> wrote:
lol I stored it exactly that way, with an arrow on the box.?
And yes warranty is meaningless with most. RMW did send me a new adapter plate as the one in my kit was made poorly so I was happy about that and offered to ship me bolts as the ones for my crossover were way too long so they’ve been decent that way. I ordered my timing belt kit from six star Bernie as he uses all Japanese oem but stuff can def still fail.?
On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 6:36?PM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
I really doubt the veracity of any warranty from any manufacturer on any of the parts I purchase. ?It’s just a reality of today’s world that many (most) big companies just don’t care. ?So I approach every purchase as a “buyer beware” type of thing.
?
John, I bled my tensioner as well, but it sure was a slow process and I’m not sure I went as slow as they recommend. ?But remember, if you don’t install it right away, I think you should store it right side up (as in the orientation that it will be installed), just to keep any air bubbles from migrating to the wrong place.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
Congratulations. ?Bit by bit, day by day, it comes together. ?I have a good friend who is forever working on his 1960 split window bus. ?His philosophy is “do at least one thing every day, no matter how small or trivial it may seem. ?Just do it.” ?So I’ve adopted that philosophy and sticking to it so far.
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That said, I did not accomplish much today (did get the front radiator hoses removed) but I’m getting up tomorrow morning determined to remove all the plastic coolant lines, hoses, and the coolant tower. ?I’ve thought of removing the spare tire clamshell just to get it out of my way, but ?I’m not entirely sure how to remove it. ?Any ideas?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Warren
It comes off easy. You pinch the bracket at the rear together. I pull one arm out at a time. You’ll obviously have to lower it first and get the wheel out of there. ?You’ll see what I mean when you’re under there. Have you seen the “auto” bleeder for the rad? I bought it a long time ago, have yet to install it.?
Pretty slick and I also bought his air flap blocker which will cut down on road noise I hope and that I did install and it’s great. Also regard to the van cafe stainless lines did you get the syncro ones or the regular ones? I was told that the syncro ones land in a better place in the engine bay for the RMW kit, so I’m really hoping that’s true as that’s what I bought. Fingers crossed….. ?
I agree with the little bit everyday. I force myself to do that also. Sad thing is pretty much every day I discover another part I’m unhappy with and have to order a new one.?
If you’re interested I’d like to keep in contact with you directly outside of this email group as it seems you’re ahead of me and like minded and I could use the help I’m guessing.?
My cell below, I’m also on whatsapp and Facebook if that’s better?
John 6042173955?
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On Fri, Mar 14, 2025 at 7:56?PM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
Congratulations. ?Bit by bit, day by day, it comes together. ?I have a good friend who is forever working on his 1960 split window bus. ?His philosophy is “do at least one thing every day, no matter how small or trivial it may seem. ?Just do it.” ?So I’ve adopted that philosophy and sticking to it so far.
?
That said, I did not accomplish much today (did get the front radiator hoses removed) but I’m getting up tomorrow morning determined to remove all the plastic coolant lines, hoses, and the coolant tower. ?I’ve thought of removing the spare tire clamshell just to get it out of my way, but ?I’m not entirely sure how to remove it. ?Any ideas?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Sounds good John. ?I sent you a text.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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