swap fuel tanks... what fits in a 59 beetle?

Purple Martin · 23 May 2006, 11:20 am

I'm thinking about swapping the fuel tank in my 59 beetle for one with a fuel sender. What years will fit?

geodon · 23 May 2006, 11:56 am

What's wrong with a dipstick eg a length of 1 inch dowell with notches cut into it??!! LOL
Seriously, it costs nix & u dont have to drill holes in ur dash for a guage.

Is ur reserve tap still working??

I've been getting by in my '60 SC wo a guage for 5 years & I can't even use a dipstick on this one!

[ Edited on 23-5-2006 by geodon ]

Purple Martin · 23 May 2006, 2:20 pm

geodon, it doesn't have a reserve tap! I wouldn't need to cut a hole in the dash for a guage if I replace the dash inset with a later model one with inbuilt guage. A dowell with notches cut in it sounds way more sophisticated than the twig I've been using 🙄

Thanks TYP-114, unfortunately they don't have senders :duh:

Craig Torrens · 23 May 2006, 2:41 pm

Any Beetle tank will fit (except L or super bug). All link pin models e.g. up to 67 have the fuel filler under the bonnet, and later Balljoint models have the fuel filler external. The tank will physically fit, its just you would then need to customise the filler. Fuel guages were fitted from '62 onwards.

Purple Martin · 23 May 2006, 3:17 pm

Thanks very much! Sounds like I need a 62-67 👍

Craig Torrens · 25 May 2006, 10:12 pm

that's it👍

VWCOOL · 26 May 2006, 11:24 am

Nah up to 60-61 (not sure) had a 'Oval' style tank with the big bump on top - the 62-on tanks were flatter and had a sender in them

You need an aftermarket sender in your old tank

Purple Martin · 29 May 2006, 11:02 am

My '59 does have the big bump on top... I don't care if I replace it with one that doesn't have the bump cos no-one will see it anyway. I only care if it fits and has a sender.

VWCOOL · 29 May 2006, 10:36 pm

the bodyshell around and under it is different, too

Craig Torrens · 30 May 2006, 9:16 pm

Craig Torrens wrote:Any Beetle tank will fit (except L or super bug). All link pin models e.g. up to 67 have the fuel filler under the bonnet, and later Balljoint models have the fuel filler external. The tank will physically fit, its just you would then need to customise the filler. Fuel guages were fitted from '62 onwards.

Sorry, I was wrong in the above post. After having a play tonight on my toys I have realised that in fact the 54- 61 model tank (the one with the hump) is a different size to the other early tanks 62-67. Soooooooo you will need to fit a sender to your existing tank, or install the reserve tap.

Always learning, even after 22years of playing with vw's !!!

Purple Martin · 31 May 2006, 9:59 am

OK. Thanks very much for all the answers! :thumb